The Global Fund has issued an urgent ultimatum to Ghana regarding TB and malaria medications that arrived last October, demanding immediate clearance.
Despite government assurances, a portion of the shipments remains trapped at the port, posing a risk of expiration.
In April, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced it had obtained tax waivers to facilitate clearance after lengthy delays.
However, demurrages and third-party charges have accumulated to seven million cedis, necessitating payment.
This outstanding debt has resulted in over 118 containers being held at the port.
Samuel Hackman, representing the Global Fund Coordinating Mechanism Secretariat, highlighted the impact, not only on the $45 million worth of commodities but also on Ghana’s relationship with the Global Fund.
“It is as bad as it was two months ago because the issue has not been fully resolved. This issue we are referring to is part of the $45 million commodities that were procured by the Global Fund under the GC Six Ghana, and part of it has still been held at the port. It’s very worrying. And it’s also denting the relationship that we have with the Global Fund as a country.”
“They have stated categorically to us that they would have done that earlier but for the long-standing relationship they would want to hold on and see the promises that we have put on the table and whether we will be able to fulfil them or not, and it is within a specified time that we need to do that or count ourselves out.
The Global Fund needs to explain this to its donors and the management of the fund need to explain this to their boss. And so nobody wants to find himself doing this kind of communication which does not bring anything, so I can assure you that if these commodities are not taken out of the port in time and in time means now, then communication will be received from the Global Fund.”
Meanwhile, medical facilities nationwide grapple with severe scarcities of vital medications, notably tuberculosis drugs, attributable to the port congestion.
Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network, emphasized the pressing nature of this concern.
“It is true that we have run out of stock for TB medications. It is also true that the Global Fund has indicated that it is going to cut ties with us as a country. When it comes to treatment for these two diseases, HIV and TB for example, if you are on medication and you stop, your body develops a resistance. So later on, when you go back to the medication, it doesn’t work. It will mean that you need to be taken unto a second line of medications which are even more expensive.”
“These are medicines that the government of Ghana is not even procuring. They are being given to us for free and yet we simply cannot take them from our port. It is baffling.”
tigpost.co
