President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana is on course to fully exit funding support from GAVI, the global Vaccine Alliance, by 2030.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Monday, May 18, President Mahama said Ghana’s progress in strengthening its healthcare system and improving domestic vaccine financing has positioned the country to gradually move away from dependence on international vaccine support.
According to him, Ghana hopes to eventually transition from being a beneficiary of GAVI assistance to becoming a donor nation in the future.
The President made the announcement while addressing global health leaders and delegates at the high-level gathering organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Highlighting ongoing healthcare reforms in Ghana, Mr Mahama also spoke about the MahamaCares initiative, which aims to make specialised and expensive medical treatment accessible to ordinary Ghanaians.
“Mahamacares is ensuring that specialised high-cost care is not a privilege for just a few but a right for all. Ghana, I am also happy to report, is on track to exit GAVI funding for vaccines by the year 2030, and we hope to transition into a donor in the not-too-distant future,” he stated.
GAVI has played a major role in supporting Ghana’s immunisation programmes over the years by helping to finance vaccines for diseases including measles, polio, yellow fever, pneumococcal infections, rotavirus, and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The alliance’s support has significantly contributed to improving vaccine coverage and reducing childhood mortality rates in Ghana through funding, technical assistance, and partnerships with international health agencies.
Under GAVI’s transition policy, countries whose economies improve beyond specific income thresholds are gradually expected to take full responsibility for financing their national immunisation programmes.
