The Ministry of Health has debunked reports that the Global Fund has halted the shipment of medicines and other health supplies to Ghana.

According to the Ministry, the institution that supplies HIV, malaria and TB drugs among others remains Ghana’s "strong development partner in health".

In a press statement sighted by JoyNews, the Ministry explained that it has recently received “an itinerary for the delivery of medicines and other health commodities expected for the year 2024, out of which the first consignment has been delivered today Friday, 12th April 2024.”

“We, hereby, wish to state categorically and emphatically that the Global Fund has neither suspended nor intends to suspend any shipments of medicines and other health commodities to Ghana.”

The Ministry of Health also used the opportunity to reassure the public and stakeholders of its strong relationship with the Global Fund.

“The commitment of the Government, through the Ministry of Health and its development partners, to meet the health needs of all people living in Ghana continues to be our collective top priority.

“We, therefore, respectfully entreat all media actors and the general public to endeavour to verify all health-related information with the Ministry, to ensure accurate, credible and reliable reportage as an intrinsic element of our economic and social development,” the Ministry added.

This follows reports that about 435 containers housing essential medical commodities, including antiretroviral drugs for HIV patients, from the Global Fund were stuck at the Tema port for almost a year.

The Ministry of Health on April 9, announced that 253 of the containers had been cleared from the port while efforts are ongoing to ensure the release of the others.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Customs Office, Ghana Revenue Authority and the Country Director of Global Fund, the Ministry said it was working on a mechanism that will see to containers with medicines expeditiously cleared from the port.

Read also: Global Fund halts deliveries to Ghana

Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has handed over 14 out of the 182 containers of locked-up pharmaceutical products needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis to the Ministry of Health.

The development took place today, April 12, 2024.

Speaking at a ceremony to officially hand over the cleared drugs, the Deputy Commissioner of the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Emmanuel Ohene, urged the various ministries and stakeholders to collaborate with GRA so as to take advantage of the new exemption law to clear eligible goods since “it would help in avoiding charges and penalties at the port.”

He explained that although the drugs were eligible for exemption, outstanding liabilities including third-party clearance fee charges led to them being locked up at the port.