The Minority Health Committee says the shutdown of ten servers by technology company Akamai raises serious concerns about the government’s financial planning, contract management and oversight of the country’s digital health infrastructure.
In a press statement signed by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, the Minority disclosed that the Ghana Health Service, in a communication dated November 2, 2026, announced that critical electronic health information systems, including the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), had been inaccessible since October 29.
The disruption reportedly followed Akamai’s suspension of ten servers over an outstanding contractual payment of US$64,510.95.
The Minority described the development as troubling, particularly because of the government’s previous assurances that investments in digital health infrastructure would strengthen the country’s control over health information systems and reduce dependence on private service providers.
It recalled that in October 2025, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, announced the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).
Although GHIMS and DHIMS2 perform different functions, the Minority noted that both form part of Ghana’s broader digital health ecosystem, raising questions about the sustainability and reliability of the government’s digital health strategy.
The committee also questioned how the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service allowed outstanding contractual obligations to result in the suspension of critical systems used in managing health information.
It further pointed to the increase in the Ministry of Health’s budget allocation from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026, representing a 28 per cent nominal increase.
Against this backdrop, the Minority is demanding a detailed account of the resources allocated to GHIMS and related digital infrastructure, including actual expenditure, implementation progress and measurable outcomes.
The statement also questioned Akamai’s decision to suspend essential health information services despite the potential public health implications, urging the Ministry to review the contractual arrangement and consider termination where justified by the facts and relevant contractual provisions.
As part of its demands, the Minority Health Committee has called on the government to immediately restore the affected systems and provide a clear timeline for their full recovery.
It is also demanding an account of all expenditure on GHIMS, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Akamai’s suspension of the servers, and appropriate action against any institutions found responsible.
Additionally, the committee is calling for an independent audit of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, covering hosting arrangements, interoperability, data security and business continuity measures.
It wants sustainable financing arrangements and infrastructure safeguards introduced to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
The Minority maintained that Ghana’s digital health transformation should be measured by the reliability, accessibility and sustainability of its systems rather than the introduction of new platforms and policy announcements.
It warned that critical national health information systems should not remain vulnerable to disruptions arising from unresolved administrative and financial obligations, adding that it would pursue parliamentary oversight to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence.
