Approximately 120 containers of TB and malaria medicines donated by the Global Fund to Ghana remain stranded at the Tema Port.
Samuel Hackman, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund, revealed this on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, on Tuesday.
Mr. Hackman expressed concern about the government’s slow progress in clearing these essential medicines, which are urgently needed by many Ghanaians.
“The potency of drugs are mostly for two and three years and so if the shelf life reduces, it also affects the efficacy of the drugs,” he said.
Also Read: We hold you in high esteem – Ashanti chiefs tell Bawumia
These shipments arrived at the Tema Port between August 2023 and February 2024. Out of 435 containers received during this period, the Ministry of Health (MoH), with government assistance, successfully cleared 253, leaving 182 containers still awaiting clearance.
In April, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced it had secured tax waivers to facilitate the clearance of the drugs after months of delay. However, demurrage and third-party charges have accumulated to seven million cedis, which must be paid.
Mr. Hackman noted that the Global Fund is closely monitoring the situation, warning that the delays could strain its relationship with Ghana.
He added that it would have been preferable for the government to reject the medication outright if it wasn’t needed, rather than leaving it stuck at the port for months.
“Just like we make emergency payments for certain things, we must also expedite the process for this. At the moment, we have started another grant that will run till December 2026 with Ghana.
“It is about $248 million and we have added almost 100 million dollars to Ghana’s grant but if we can’t resolve the issues with the former, what will motivate Global Fund to do more?” he quizzed.
