The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has given the government a 48-hour deadline to clear family planning medical supplies from the Tema Port.
According to the civil society organization, the supplies have been left at the port since February 2024, while regional medical stores are experiencing shortages.
The organization has also notified the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service of its intention to mobilize women to protest at the ministry if the supplies are not cleared within 48 hours.
In a press statement, the organization stated that, “ASEPA has noted with deep concerns the Ministry of Health’s inability to clear family planning medications donated to Ghana by donor partners from the Tema port since February 2024.
“Our checks at the regional medical stores across the country reveals that these medications have been in short supply since February 2024, meanwhile these medications donated to Ghana by our donor partners have been sitting at the port for over six months…
“We are thereby giving the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service 48 hours to clear these medications from the port. After the 48-hour ultimatum, ASEPA would mobilize well-meaning Ghanaian women who are in serious need of these family planning medications to demonstrate at the Ministry until the medications are cleared,” parts of the press released signed by group’s Executive Director, Mensah Thompson, read.
In June this year, over 400 containers of other essential drugs were cleared from the port following a massive public outcry over shortages of those medicines across the country.