Minority demands probe into $64,000 health system shutdown

The Minority in Parliament is demanding an urgent investigation into the suspension of Ghana’s essential health information systems following an unpaid debt of approximately $64,511 to the cloud hosting provider Akamai. The shutdown, which took effect on October 29, 2026, has rendered critical platforms like the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) inaccessible. This disruption has reportedly forced health facilities across the country to abandon digital platforms and return to manual, paper-based record-keeping, sparking concerns over data integrity and patient care efficiency.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to appear before the house to provide a formal explanation for the lapse. The opposition argues that a relatively small debt of $64,000 should never have been allowed to compromise the national health infrastructure. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, joined the criticism, stating that the government should have accounted for the critical implications of allowing such vital systems to go offline, particularly while the project was already under investigation.

In addition to the call for a probe, the Minority is demanding a detailed account of all expenditures related to digital health infrastructure and a comprehensive review of the contract with Akamai. They have characterized the situation as a failure of financial planning and oversight within the Ministry of Health, noting that the shutdown occurred despite an increased health budget. The opposition emphasized that the effectiveness of Ghana’s digital health transformation must be measured by the robustness and reliability of its systems rather than the mere introduction of new technology.

While Majority Leader James Agalga confirmed that Parliament will take steps to invite Minister Akandoh for clarification, the Ministry of Health has reportedly since authorized the payment to restore operations. However, the Minority continues to advocate for an independent audit of the existing digital systems to ensure long-term sustainability and prevent future service interruptions. The incident has raised broader questions about the government’s management of third-party contracts for essential public services.