Minority demands probe into Akamai shutdown of digital health systems over US$64,511 debt

The caucus says the disruption raises concerns about the government’s financial management, contract obligations and oversight of the country’s digital health infrastructure.

In a statement dated November 6, 2026, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) had disclosed in a November 2 communication that key electronic health systems, including the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), had been inaccessible since October 29.

The disruption reportedly followed Akamai’s suspension of ten servers over an outstanding payment of US$64,510.95.

The Minority described the situation as concerning, particularly because the government had previously assured Ghanaians that the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) would give the country greater control over health data and reduce reliance on private service providers.

In October 2025, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced the introduction of GHIMS to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).

Although GHIMS and DHIMS2 serve different purposes, the Minority says both form part of Ghana’s broader digital health system, raising questions about the government’s ability to sustain its digital health transformation.

The caucus has also questioned how funds allocated to the sector have been used, noting that the Ministry of Health’s budget increased from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026, representing a 28 per cent nominal increase.

It is therefore demanding a detailed breakdown of the funds allocated to GHIMS and other digital health infrastructure, how much has been spent and the results achieved.

The Minority further criticised the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for allowing unpaid contractual obligations to disrupt critical national health systems.

It also questioned Akamai’s decision to suspend its services despite the possible impact on public health, while acknowledging that contractual agreements must be honoured.

The caucus has called on the Ministry to review its agreement with Akamai and consider terminating the contract if the facts and contractual terms justify such a decision.

It is also demanding the immediate restoration of the affected systems and a clear timeline for their full recovery.

It is also calling for a comprehensive account of GHIMS expenditure, including budgetary allocations, actual spending, implementation progress and integration with existing health information systems.

Additionally, the caucus wants an investigation into the Akamai suspension to establish institutional responsibility and determine appropriate corrective action.

It has proposed an independent audit of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, covering hosting arrangements, interoperability, data security and business continuity.

The Minority says sustainable financing and infrastructure safeguards must also be established to prevent similar disruptions.

It maintains that Ghana’s digital health transformation must be measured by the reliability, accessibility and sustainability of systems serving the public, rather than simply the introduction of new platforms.

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