By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey
Accra, Sept.19, GNA – Three Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday advocated the establishment of clear budget lines for vaccines, immunisation and health commodities within the Ministry of Health’s budget.
The CSOs, including the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Hope for Future Generations, and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, said the Government needed to strengthen accountability in primary healthcare financing to ensure sustainable financing for immunization.
Addressing the media at a press conference in Accra, they said clearly defined budget allocations would enable Parliament and other stakeholders to track Government’s commitments to immunisation financing and ensure that funds were available for vaccine procurement and programme operations.
The stakeholders also proposed innovative financing mechanisms, including an airline-ticket solidarity levy, vaccine and health bonds, and social or development-impact bonds, to complement domestic resources for primary healthcare and immunisation.
The recommendations were contained in a position statement following an academic symposium on sustainable financing for primary healthcare and immunisation convened by the UHAS, in partnership with Hope for Future Generations and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator.
The symposium, held in Ho in June this year, was on the theme: “Advancing Sustainable Financing for Primary Healthcare in Ghana: From Academic Research to Policy Making.”
It brought together academics, government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to discuss measures to facilitate the funding of protected healthcare.
Mr Stephen Atasige, the Country Coordinator, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, who presented the position statement, noted that Ghana’s immunisation programme remained largely financed by Gavi and other partners, even as it transitioned into full self-financing by January 2030 under Gavi’s Accelerated Transition Phase.
He said the transition made it imperative for Ghana to begin strengthening domestic financing mechanisms now rather than waiting until the 2030 deadline.
Mr Atasige urged the Government to embed immunisation financing within the Free Primary Healthcare framework without further delay.
“We are asking for a defined share of tax revenues from tobacco and alcohol, alongside royalties from the mining and petroleum sectors, to be earmarked for primary healthcare and immunisation financing,” he said.
Mr Atasige said innovative, evidence-based and cost-effective financing would be critical to sustaining progress in primary healthcare and immunisation.
He also recommended extending National Health Insurance Scheme premium contributions to a uniform salary-based model covering formal-sector earners to support primary healthcare financing.
He called for the implementation of a sustainability-focused Gavi transition roadmap by 2030 to enable Ghana to fully finance its immunisation system.
The Country Coordinator further called for accelerated local manufacturing and regional procurement through the National Vaccine Institute and said lessons must be learned from previous African and global transitions to inform Ghana’s preparations.
Madam Cecelia Senoo, the Executive Director, Hope for Future Generations, said civil society organisations, academia and the media had a responsibility to advocate increased domestic financing for immunisation and primary healthcare.
“As our leaders, including the African Union, continue to talk about sovereignty, Ghana must also work towards health financing sovereignty by building its own health account and reducing overdependence on donors,” she said.
Madam Senoo urged academia, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to sustain advocacy to ensure that immunisation financing remained a national priority and was reflected in government policies and budgets.
The position statement was adopted in September 2026 on behalf of participants in the Academic Symposium on Advancing Sustainable Financing for Primary Health Care in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey
Email: [email protected]