Accra: The Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) has advocated the urgent release of Ghana’s $16.3 million vaccine co-financing obligation to GAVI to avert a possible shortage of vaccines for routine immunisation. Madam Cecelia Lodonu-Senoo, the Executive Director for HFFG, a community-based not-for-profit organisation, stated that Ghana had delayed in meeting its payment timeline to GAVI, which ended at the first quarter of 2025.
According to Ghana News Agency, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is an international organisation that aims to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable access to vaccines in developing countries. Madam Lodonu-Senoo highlighted that further delays risked interrupting routine immunisation services, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, she noted the critical importance of the timely release of funds, which would prevent stock outs, mitigate the risks of preventable disease outbreaks, while preserving the real value of budget allocation. ‘As of the second week of June, the Government has made no commitment to its co-financing obligation, Ghana stands to experience shortages of vaccines since co-financing payments are still pending,’ she said.
Madam Lodonu-Senoo noted that the delays in co-financing payments threatened the gains made in immunisation, with ripple effects on child welfare, public health security, and economic productivity. ‘Stock outs compromise Ghana’s gains in vaccine-preventable disease control, reduce public trust in the health system, and can result in outbreaks of several diseases,’ she said.
Ghana delayed in meeting its co-financing obligations in 2023, defaulted in payment to GAVI in 2014, 2016, and 2018, leading to vaccine shortages that contributed to significant public health challenges. In 2022, the country recorded over 120 measles cases in the Northern Region due to vaccine stock-outs.
Madam Lodonu-Senoo said with Gavi set to transition out by 2030, the Government needed to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation for immunisation and primary health care (PHC). Mrs Nancy Ansah, the Programmes Manager of HFFG, said while the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) was commendable, the GHS 10.7 billion allocation was inadequate, especially as the NHIL coverage expanded.
She emphasised the need for government to explore innovative financing models to close funding gaps in immunisation and PHC delivery. Mrs Ansah suggested strengthening advance purchase agreements, like strategies implemented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Burkina Faso, where a one-year advance procurement of vaccines was secured, could be explored to improve immunisation financing.
Alternatively, the Government could issue specific warrants dedicated solely to immunisation funding to ensure the timely release of funds, rather than relying on general warrants, she noted. Mrs Ansah called for the establishment of a dedicated pool of resources for immunisation financing, potentially using the existing COVID-19 levy to fill funding gaps.
She said Ghana needed a ring-fenced emergency preparedness fund to support surveillance, health system resilience, and rapid outbreak prevention. In line with the Abidjan Declaration, it is anticipated that the Government would commit to its obligations being a signatory to the declaration.
The Abidjan Declaration emphasises sustainable domestic financing for immunisation, aligning with Ghana’s urgent need to address persistent funding delays in vaccine procurement and delivery. Ghana’s continued reliance on external funding had strained its immunisation infrastructure, Mrs Ansah said, underscoring the importance of timely co-financing, domestic resource mobilisation, and strategic partnerships to strengthen the immunisation gains.