Ghana Fails to Invest GHS 76 Million Annually in Nutrition Commitments

Ghana committed to an annual USD 6 million (GHS 76 million) investment in nutrition but has not fulfilled this promise, risking severe malnutrition impacts.

Ghana has not met its commitment to invest USD 6 million, equivalent to approximately GHS 76 million, annually in essential nutrition commodities. This failure leaves 68,517 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 51% of pregnant women with anaemia each year. The lack of funding risks reversing progress in public health and increasing future healthcare burdens. Nutrition experts are now calling on Parliament to integrate critical nutrition commodities into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). These commodities include Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for children under five with SAM and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women with chronic anaemia. This move aims to secure sustainable domestic financing and improve health outcomes. This unfulfilled commitment comes as Ghana faces significant economic pressures and aid cuts. The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris last year saw Ghana pledge the annual investment for essential nutrition. Currently, donor funding supports RUTF and MMS, but only in limited project areas. This limited coverage highlights a critical financing gap, particularly as global aid shrinks. Madam Olivia Timpo, Deputy Director of Nutrition at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), warned of potential stock-outs and a reversal of gains. She stated, "Without reliable commodities, guidelines cannot translate into treatment or prevention." Madam Timpo stressed that Parliament could ensure these life-saving items become routinely available and affordable through the NHIS and domestic financing. The implications of not addressing this crisis are severe. Poor nutrition contributes to preventable child deaths, low birth weight, impaired child growth, and poor learning outcomes. It also drives up healthcare costs. Parliament's action would prevent these negative outcomes and protect Ghana's human capital. The Deputy Chief Executive of Finance and Investment at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mrs Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri, confirmed the NHIA's readiness to engage in solutions. She is exploring how health financing can better support maternal and child health. The call reinforces the need for Parliament to strengthen oversight on nutrition funding and commodity availability before the 2026 budget cycle. Dr. Charity Binka, CEO of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), highlighted the long-term economic benefits. She explained that investing in mothers and children protects Ghana’s future, strengthens its workforce, and secures the potential of future generations. This strategic investment can avoid higher costs associated with illness, poor productivity, and lost human potential.

Ghana Fails to Invest GHS 76 Million Annually in Nutrition Commitments

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