The Ministry of Health in Ghana is taking steps to clear the remaining 168 containers of essential medical supplies stuck at the Tema Port.
Isaac Offei Baah, the Public Relations Officer, announced that the ministry aims to have all the containers released by next week.
These containers hold crucial medicines for antiretroviral, Tuberculosis (TB), and malaria treatments, which were donated by the Global Fund (GF).
The essential medical commodities, including antiretroviral drugs for HIV patients, have been stranded at the port for almost a year due to the government’s inability to pay third-party fees.
Mr. Baah clarified that the containers do not contain any antiretroviral drugs, and the remaining 168 only have mosquito nets in them.
The cost to clear these containers, estimated at around GHC17 million, will cover non-medicine commodities such as bed nets and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs).
Alhaji Hafiz Adam, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, confirmed that 14 containers of health commodities, including malaria RDT containers, malaria injection, and malaria medicine, will be delivered to a warehouse in Accra.
