The Minority described the Ministry’s excuse for the non-clearance as untenable, saying the Ministry had ample time to prepare the necessary documentation or secure funding warrants for the timely clearance of the essential consumables upon their arrival.

The Minority also took issue with the MoH’s two to three-month delay in taking steps to secure extra funds for clearance, calling it “incompetence of the highest order.”

The Ministry of Health had refuted claims that the delay in clearing antiretroviral drugs at the ports was due to the lack of tax waivers.

It said in a rejoinder on Saturday, October 7, 2023, that the high volumes of the drugs required extra resources and that it was working to secure the necessary funds to clear the drugs by Friday, October 13, 2023.

But the Minority said PLHIV cannot and should not be made to wait beyond October 13, 2023, for drugs that arrived in the country three months ago.

The Minority in a statement signed by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, said “At this juncture, the least it can do is offer an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for its failure to perform the simple function of clearing donated goods for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV).”

“As the Minority, we firmly believe that Ghana deserves better, and the excuses must cease” the statement added.

ALSO READ:

• OccupyBOG demo: Duffour reacts to security head receiving petition saga

• For men: If you are having sex with a first-timer this is what she wants you to do

• My outburst was out of character – Madina MP

The drugs have been stuck at the ports since July 2023.

JoyNews’ James Avedzi, after an interview with management of the service, confirmed that the issue of shortage has come to their attention.

According to the managers, they are working to resolve the issue.

They assured that by Wednesday, October 11, the drugs should be distributed to various health centers.

The Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+ Ghana) had revealed that Ghana is experiencing a shortage of anti-retroviral medication specifically the Abacavir Lamivudine regimen for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) across the country.

The Abacavir Lamivudine regimen is one of the many regimens that PLHIV needs daily to attain viral suppression, keep healthy and productive and in so doing, enable the country to reduce new HIV infections and end AIDS by 2030.

It is against this backdrop that the Minority caucus in parliament demanded that the Finance Ministry immediately grants tax exemption waivers for the immediate clearance of anti-retroviral drugs and other medical equipment and consumables at the port.

A release signed by the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said “The Minority in Parliament finds it an unconscionable gross dereliction of duty that government officials in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance will leave, since July 2023, donated containers of HIV anti-retroviral drugs at the ports creating needless shortages for Persons Living with HIV.”

According to the minority, they would not “sit aloof and let government plunge us all into needless danger.”

According to the release, the situation “if unchecked could lead to an increase in the prevalence rate of HIV in Ghana, increase in morbidity and mortality for Persons Living with HIV, and increase the overall cost of HIV management in Ghana.”

“The health and well-being of Ghanaians are non-negotiable, and we urge the government to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this crisis,” portions of the release stated.

READ ALSO:

• Issue tax waivers and clear antiretroviral drugs at ports – Minority to govt

• Ghana warned of shortage of HIV anti-retroviral drugs