The Minority Caucus in Parliament has demanded urgent explanations from the government and the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, following the suspension of critical Ghana Health Service (GHS) digital platforms over an outstanding cloud hosting bill of US$64,510.95.
The Minority says the disruption raises serious questions about the government’s management of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, particularly in light of its previous commitment to establish a state-owned digital health information platform to address challenges associated with the country’s existing systems.
In October 2025, the government announced the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS), which was expected to replace the controversial Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).
The initiative was presented as a major step towards strengthening Ghana’s control over its health information infrastructure and improving the management, security and accessibility of health data.
However, the latest disruption has raised concerns about the sustainability and reliability of the country’s digital health systems, barely a year after the GHIMS announcement.
According to an internal memorandum issued by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, on November 2, 2026, Akamai suspended all 10 servers hosting critical health information platforms effective October 29, 2026, over an unpaid hosting bill of US$64,510.95.
The affected platforms include the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), Planning and Budget Management Information System (PBMIS), eTracker, Family Planning and Health Care platforms, HIV and Tuberculosis trackers, and the National Malaria Data Repository.
Other affected systems include the Non-Communicable Disease tracker, the Community Health Information Management portal, as well as other health reporting and data-exchange platforms used by the Ghana Health Service.
The suspension reportedly disrupted access to essential digital reporting and information management services across the country, forcing health facilities to temporarily revert to paper-based reporting while efforts are made to restore the affected systems.
In a statement signed by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Hon. Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Minority expressed concern that critical national health information infrastructure could become inaccessible over an outstanding payment of US$64,510.95.
The Caucus questioned why adequate financial and contractual arrangements were not put in place to prevent the suspension, considering the importance of the affected platforms to healthcare administration and service delivery.
It also demanded clarity on the status of GHIMS, questioning what had become of the government’s commitment to establish a state-owned digital health information management system.
The Minority wants the government to disclose how much has been allocated to and spent on the GHIMS project, the level of implementation achieved so far, and the measurable outcomes recorded since its announcement.
It further questioned why the country continues to experience disruptions in its digital health infrastructure despite the government’s stated commitment to modernising the management of health information.
The Minority also drew attention to the increase in the Ministry of Health’s budget from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026, representing a nominal increase of about 28 per cent.
It argued that the disruption of critical digital health services over an outstanding hosting obligation raises questions about budgetary priorities, financial planning and the government’s ability to meet essential operational commitments.
According to the Caucus, the government must explain how a relatively modest hosting bill could remain unpaid to the extent that it resulted in the suspension of multiple platforms supporting the country’s healthcare information system.
To address the situation and prevent a recurrence, the Minority has outlined five key demands.
First, it is calling for the immediate restoration of all affected digital health systems to ensure that health facilities can resume normal electronic reporting and information management activities.
Second, it wants the Ministry of Health to provide full disclosure of GHIMS budgetary allocations, expenditure and implementation progress to establish whether the project is delivering on its stated objectives.
The Caucus is also demanding a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Akamai suspension, including the institutions and officials responsible for the outstanding payment.
Additionally, it is calling for an independent audit of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, with particular attention to hosting arrangements, contractual obligations, data security and the sustainability of the systems.
Finally, the Minority wants the government to establish sustainable financing arrangements and appropriate administrative safeguards to prevent essential health information platforms from becoming inaccessible because of unresolved financial obligations.
The Caucus acknowledged assurances from the Ghana Health Service that no data had been lost following the suspension and that encrypted backups remained available.
However, it stressed that the preservation of health data alone does not guarantee the effective functioning of the country’s digital health infrastructure.
It noted that uninterrupted access to health information systems is equally important, given their role in supporting healthcare reporting, planning, budgeting, disease surveillance and the monitoring of public health interventions.
The Minority warned that Ghana cannot afford a situation in which critical health information services become inaccessible because of unresolved administrative and financial obligations.
It therefore urged the government to move beyond policy announcements and public commitments and provide concrete answers on the management of the country’s digital health systems.
The Caucus further indicated that it would pursue the necessary parliamentary oversight measures to ensure that the institutions and individuals responsible for the disruption are held accountable and that appropriate measures are implemented to prevent similar incidents.
The development has renewed attention on the need for reliable digital infrastructure within Ghana’s healthcare sector, particularly as the country seeks to strengthen health data management, improve service delivery and modernise its public health administration.
For the Minority, the immediate priority is to restore the affected platforms, establish accountability for the suspension and ensure that Ghana’s digital health infrastructure is supported by sustainable financing and effective management arrangements.
By 1960news.com
