Health Minister Reacts as UN Family Planning Supplies Sit at Tema Port Since 2024
Frank Ocansey
Editor, PulseView
Family Planning: Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has expressed surprise over reports that family planning commodities donated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have been left at the Tema Port since August 2024 without being cleared.
Speaking during a media briefing on April 13, the Minister said he was not aware of the prolonged delay. He noted that he had assumed the essential reproductive health supplies, intended to support health facilities and prevent stock-outs, had already been processed and distributed.
“I wasn’t aware of the situation. The last time we heard about these items was in 2024, and I thought they had long been cleared. As we speak, the Director responsible has been queried, and the issue is being addressed. It is unfortunate, and we are assuring our development partners that efforts are underway to resolve it,” he stated.
The issue has sparked concern among civil society organisations, particularly the SDGs platform, as well as members of the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global Fund. They warn that delays in clearing the commodities could worsen shortages of contraceptives in health facilities across the country.
Family Planning Shortage
Health experts have also raised concerns that limited access to family planning services may lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and additional pressure on Ghana’s already stretched maternal and child health services.
The delayed shipment reportedly contains contraceptive implants, injectable contraceptives, oral pills, and other essential reproductive health commodities procured to support Ghana’s national family planning programme. These supplies were expected to be distributed nationwide through the Ghana Health Service and partner facilities.
This is not the first time Ghana has faced challenges with delays in clearing critical medical supplies at the port. Stakeholders have consistently called for stronger coordination among relevant agencies to ensure timely clearance and distribution of donated health commodities.
The Health Ministry says it is currently working with relevant authorities to fast-track the clearance process. It has also pledged to strengthen internal monitoring systems to prevent similar delays in the future and ensure that essential medical supplies reach health facilities without interruption.
Source: MoH
Continue Reading
How to Get Rid of Brain Fog: 9 Simple Ways to Improve Focus and Mental Clarity
Brain fog can make it difficult to concentrate, remember simple things or think clearly. While it is not a medical condition on its own, it can leave you feeling mentally slow and overwhelmed. The good news is that small changes to your daily routine may help improve focus, reduce mental overload and support better brain […]
Frank Ocansey
What Screen Time Really Does to Children’s Brains: What the Science Says
Screen Time: Parents are repeatedly warned that smartphones, tablets, gaming and social media could damage children’s brains. But despite growing concern about screen use, researchers remain divided over how harmful it really is — and whether the amount of screen time matters as much as what children are actually doing online. Screen time has become […]
Frank Ocansey
Box Breathing for Stress: How the 4-4-4-4 Technique Helps Calm Your Nervous System
Box breathing has become one of the most popular breathing techniques for managing stress, anxiety and moments of intense pressure. Used by athletes, military personnel and people struggling with sleeplessness, the method is remarkably simple: breathe in, hold, breathe out and hold again for equal amounts of time. But what actually happens inside the body […]
Frank Ocansey