Donated locked-up drugs: Our heartless and insensitive government

Over the last few weeks, there has been a report about some locked-up drugs donated by Global Fund to the government, this is disheartening and unfortunate, and it shows how insensitive the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government is to the plight of Ghanaians.

The reports indicate that out of the 182 containers of medical supplies sent to Ghana, only 14 have been cleared by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), leaving the rest detained at Tema port due to unpaid third-party fees. The amount involved is part of the $234 million the Global Fund allocated to the country to enhance the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria from 2023 to 2025.

Shockingly, the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government is demanding exorbitant taxes and port charges for clearing the donated commodities, contrary to the Framework Agreement exempting such charges.

The Coalition of CSO Networks in HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria have made numerous appeals to President Akufo-Addo to assist in the clearing of the locked-up items at Tema Port, valued at over US$40 million, all have fell on deaf ears.

These items are needed to save lives of fellow Ghanaians and they include, Antiretrovirals (ARVs), TB medications and Malaria treatments, yet they have been locked up at the port since May, 2023, causing critical shortages at health facilities nationwide, whiles the government looks on.

In one of his desperate plea for help, convenor of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network, Mr Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, described the situation as dire as it had resulted in unnecessary loss of lives, prompting urgent action to avert a looming public health emergency.

This is the first time such insensitivity has been displayed by any government since the Global Fund has started supporting Ghana’s health initiatives, contributing over US$1.2 billion as far back as 2002.

The intransigence attitude of the government leads to some level of suspicion, because the whole issue doesn’t add up. How could a country in badly need of drugs and items for its citizens behave in such a despicable manner after it has been donated those drugs, the fund added additional $2 million to the government to clear the goods for its own citizens, yet the government is demanding extra millions of dollars from the donor before the goods could be cleared.

As we speak, HIV/Aids patients in this country are suffering and are compelled to accept rationing of the locked up drugs donated to their government. This is despite the public outcry from affected victims, Civil Service Organisations, NGO’s and even HIV/Aids Patients.

After the tenacious complaints from the donors and all stakeholders, the government in an effort to purge itself from the embarrassment has now stated that it was clearing the goods, this is the zenith of heartlessness and wickedness on the part of the former Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the President and the current minister of the sector.

President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and all members of the cabinet should be ashamed of themselves, this is the perfect description of irresponsible and heartless leadership.

There are more questions than answers in all this embarrassing incident that is synonymous to a soap opera, are the drugs even at the port as of now? It is dangerous to trust the government’s latest knee jerk reaction after more than a year, this could be a ploy to deceive the general public.

There have been instances of goods imported by private individuals such as rice being diverted from the ports by government officials for illegal sale and donation under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.

In view of our past experiences, how sure are we that, without independent verification and validation, the Government wasn't listening to all those appeals because some party lords or other people have hijacked or diverted the donated drugs from the ports long ago?

It will therefore be useful for the media and all relevant stakeholders to be present to witness that what were donated are what we clear when the time is due, because this government cannot be trusted.