By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Accra, Nov. 6, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to restore access to key electronic health information systems and provide a comprehensive account of expenditure on the country’s digital health infrastructure.
In a press statement issued on Friday and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Caucus expressed concern about the disruption to systems, including the District Health Information Management System 2 (DHIMS2).
The statement, signed by Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) had disclosed in a communication dated November 2, 2026, that the systems had been inaccessible since October 29, 2026.
According to the GHS communication quoted in the statement, the disruption followed the suspension of 10 servers by Akamai over an outstanding payment of US$64,510.95.
The Minority recalled that in October 2025, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, announced the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).
“Government at the time presented GHIMS as a state-owned platform intended to strengthen national control over health data,” the statement said.
It noted that although GHIMS and DHIMS2 performed different functions, both formed part of Ghana’s wider digital health ecosystem, adding that the disruption raised questions about the sustainability of the country’s digital health strategy.
The statement also drew attention to the alleged increase in the Ministry of Health’s budget from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026.
It consequently demanded a detailed account of the resources specifically committed to GHIMS and related digital infrastructure, as well as the outcomes achieved.
The Minority further raised concerns about financial planning, contract management and institutional oversight at the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, questioning the circumstances that led to the suspension of essential health information services over the outstanding payment.
The Caucus outlined five demands, including the immediate restoration of the affected systems and a clear timeline for their full recovery.
It also called for a comprehensive account of expenditure on GHIMS, covering budgetary allocations, actual spending, implementation progress and integration with existing systems.
The statement further demanded an investigation into the Akamai suspension to establish institutional responsibility and ensure appropriate corrective action.
It called for an independent audit of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, including hosting arrangements, interoperability, data security and business continuity.
The fifth demand was for sustainable financing arrangements and infrastructure safeguards to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
The Minority said it would pursue parliamentary oversight to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence.
Reporter: Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Email: [email protected]