Dr Kingsley Agyemang Slams Ghana Govt Over Under-Spending on Healthcare

• The Ghana government allocated GH¢34.1 billion to health in the 2026 Budget but failed to match its budget with actual spending.
• Only about GH¢3.4 billion of the GH¢11.2 billion earmarked for NHIS and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund had been spent in the first half of the year—about 30 percent of the total allocation.
• The lack of transparency in the Mid-Year Review has made it impossible for Parliament and Ghanaians to assess the government's performance on healthcare spending.

every household depends on access to quality healthcare

The recent Mid-Year Budget Review has exposed a disturbing trend of under-spending on healthcare by the Ghana government, despite allocating a significant amount of funds to the sector. According to Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, a Member on Parliament's Health Committee, the government's failure to match its budget with actual spending is a serious concern that needs immediate attention. The allocation of GH¢34.1 billion to health in the 2026 Budget was a promising start, but the lack of transparency in the Mid-Year Review has made it impossible for Parliament and Ghanaians to assess the government's performance. Dr. Agyemang pointed out that the Public Financial Management Act requires the Mid-Year Budget Review to compare approved allocations with actual expenditure on compensation, goods and services, and capital expenditure, but this breakdown is missing in the review.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been a crucial component of Ghana's healthcare system, providing access to quality healthcare for millions of Ghanaians. However, despite the government's celebration of uncapping the National Health Insurance Levy, only about GH¢3.4 billion of the GH¢11.2 billion earmarked for the NHIS and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund had been spent in the first half of the year—about 30 percent of the total allocation. This low level of spending raises concerns about the government's commitment to healthcare, and Dr. Agyemang argued that budget allocations must translate into real expenditure because 'every household depends on access to quality healthcare.' The lack of transparency in the Mid-Year Review has made it impossible for Parliament and Ghanaians to properly assess the government's performance.

The under-spending on healthcare by the Ghana government has significant implications for compliance and access to quality healthcare. As Dr. Agyemang pointed out, budget allocations must translate into real expenditure because 'every household depends on access to quality healthcare.' The lack of transparency in the Mid-Year Review has made it impossible for Parliament and Ghanaians to assess the government's performance, and this raises concerns about the government's commitment to healthcare. Furthermore, the under-spending on NHIS funding may lead to compliance exposures or challenges in accessing quality healthcare, which is a critical issue that needs immediate attention.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential implications of the Ghana government's under-spending on healthcare, particularly with regards to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Public Financial Management Act, which may lead to compliance exposures or challenges in accessing quality healthcare.

Source: Original reporting via Carlos A. Calony