Minority Caucus Demands Accountability Over Shutdown of Ghana Health Service Digital Platforms
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has urged the government, along with the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to provide an explanation regarding the cessation of essential digital platforms operated by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), triggered by an unresolved cloud hosting bill totaling US$64,510.95.
According to reports, the technology firm Akamai suspended these crucial platforms on October 29, 2026, following the GHS’s failure to clear the outstanding payment.
In a statement issued by Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member of the Health Committee, the Minority expressed serious concerns about the significant disruption to digital health reporting across the nation, which has compelled healthcare facilities to revert to traditional paper-based systems.
The platforms affected by this suspension include the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), Planning and Budget Management Information System (PBMIS), eTracker, as well as trackers for HIV, Tuberculosis, and the National Malaria Data Repository, among other health information systems.
The Minority highlighted that this disruption surfaced less than a year after the government introduced the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) in October 2025, intended to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).
In light of these events, they questioned the government’s financial commitment to the new system and the advancements made since its rollout, raising concerns about the absence of sufficient financial and contractual measures that could have prevented the current disruption.
The caucus further scrutinized how critical national health information platforms could become inoperative due to a relatively small outstanding bill of US$64,510.95, especially considering the Ministry of Health’s budget has risen from GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026.
The Minority is demanding an immediate restoration of all affected digital platforms, a complete disclosure of expenditures and implementation progress related to GHIMS, as well as a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to their suspension.
Additionally, they are calling for an independent audit of the nation’s digital health infrastructure, including hosting arrangements and data security, alongside sustainable funding mechanisms to avert similar occurrences in the future.
While the Ghana Health Service has assured the public that there has been no loss of data and that encrypted backups are available, the Minority contends that the mere preservation of data does not ensure uninterrupted access to vital health information.
The Minority Caucus has vowed to exercise parliamentary oversight to guarantee that responsible institutions and officials are held accountable for this disruption.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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