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Find alternative sources of funding for HIV- African leaders told
There is growing pressure on Ghana to secure alternative sources of funding for the control and management of HIV due to the United States foreign aid funding cuts.
The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, made this disclosure on Friday at the second International Steering Committee meeting held in Accra.
It formed part of preparations for Ghana to host the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) scheduled for December 3-8, 2025 and expected to attract over 12,000 participants from different backgrounds, including healthcare professionals, policy makers, scientists, and civil society organisations.
Dr Akanbong explained that with the huge number of patients with the virus, it would be important for government to find alternative sources of funding to avert what could be a calamity.
According to him, “The issue of sustainability has been on the table for some time, but with likely reductions in U.S. support, we must act quickly. African governments need to build financial resilience and present strong investment cases to maintain our programmes,” he stated.
He described Ghana’s hosting of ICASA as a major step in the country’s HIV response.
“For the first time, Ghana is hosting ICASA. As the local organising committee, we have a number of responsibilities. We’re expected to provide scholarships for about 500 young health workers and students. We also have to make sure venues such as the Accra International Conference Centre were ready,” he mentioned.
Dr Akanbong further noted that beyond its public health value, the conference would also have economic and research benefits, adding that “this is an opportunity to showcase Ghana’s progress in HIV response and to position the country more visibly in global health discussions.”
The president of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) and Chair of International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), Dr David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, also called on Africans to wake up to the challenge of strengthening health systems on the continent.
He said the continent cannot continue to rely on donor funding but must now look inward to find other avenues to prioritise the health of its people.
He said the continent had depended on donor funds for far too long which poses a security risk.
“This is a wakeup call, we cannot continue to rely on American aid. We must begin to mobilise our own resources from oil, gold, platinum and other natural resources,” he stated.
Prof. Muhammad Chakron, Vice President of the Society for AIDS in Africa, said ICASA 2025 comes at a time when global health funding is under strain.
He urged African countries to increase their investments in HIV, TB, malaria, and health research.
“This is necessary to keep making progress, and we expect it to be thoroughly discussed at the upcoming conference,” he added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
ICU holds Greater Accra regional youth, women confab
The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) on Friday held the Greater Accra Regional Youth and Women’s Conference to build a strategic network.
The conference which brought together representatives of the Union was a great opportunity for ICU Ghana to make its voice heard on policies that were crucial to the development of the country.
The platform was also used to elect new officers for the Greater Accra Branch of The ICU Ghana to mark its 12th National Quadrennial Conference in August.
The General Secretary of the ICU Ghana, Mr Morgan Ayawine, called on government to assist the two state-owned media organisation, New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of The Spectator and The Ghanaian Times newspapers and Graphic Communication Group Limited (GCGL).
“The two state-owned media played major roles in disseminating government policies, educating, entertaining and informing the public of the happenings in the world,” he added.
He said ICU Ghana would also raise issues about the recapitalisation of the two organisations with the sector minister.
Mr Ayawine disclosed that the ADB and NIB banks were also going through the same ordeal but government intervened and urged government to do same for the two state-owned organisations.
He stressed on equal partnership between unions and employers, saying the capital and labour were crucial to create, produce and generate funds.
The General Secretary advised the various branches of the association to suggest solutions on socio-economic issues such as employment for discussions.
The newly-elected members who were sworn in by the General Secretary, Mr Morgan Ayawine includes Belinda Cochrane-chairman, Eric Ekow Turkson-Vice chairman and Moses Kwaku Otoo-Secretary.
Others were Charles Akomea-Financial Secretary, Charles Biden- Executive Member, Diana Asiedu-Women’s Representative and Samuella A. Brago-Youth Representative.
The chairman of the Greater Accra Branch of the ICU Ghana, Belinda Cochrane thanked the leadership for contributing to the success of the union.
She added that the conference was to prepare for the 12th National Quadrennial Conference and also to take stock of the activities of the branch for the past years and discuss issues on the ground.
News
Minister for Health holds emergency stakeholder meeting with principals and directors of Health Training Institutions
In a proactive move to strengthen collaboration within the health sector, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has convened an emergency meeting with the Conference of Heads of Health Training Institutions (COHHETI) across the country.
The meeting aimed to deepen engagement between the Ministry and key stakeholders responsible for training health professionals.
The session provided a platform for open dialogue on the challenges facing health training institutions, the quality of healthcare education, and the strategic direction of human resource development in the sector.
Addressing the stakeholders, Mr. Akandoh emphasized the importance of fostering strong and cordial relationships between the Ministry and training institutions to ensure a well-coordinated and responsive healthcare system.
He indicated that the purpose of the meeting was also to collaborate, discuss concerns, and find practical solutions that would benefit not only the institutions but also the Ghanaian people who rely on the healthcare system.
The President of COHHETI, Madam Margaret Mary Alacoque welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary. She raised concerns about transportation challenges, accreditation delays, staffing shortages, and the general conditions and status of service for Health Training Institutions (HTIs). She also shared innovative strategies that some institutions have adopted to improve training outcomes.
In his response, Mr.Akandoh assured participants of the Ministry’s commitment to addressing their concerns and announced plans to enhance coordination and follow-ups.
He added that the Ministry would soon introduce policy reforms aimed at improving standards in health education and ensuring alignment with national health priorities.
These reforms include reducing the cost of admission, implementing automatic code generation for applicants, and clarifying leadership roles within HTIs.
