Minority demands probe into Akamai shutdown of digital health systems over US$64m debt

The Minority in Parliament has demanded an investigation into the suspension of critical electronic health information systems in Ghana following an outstanding payment of approximately US$64,511 to technology services provider Akamai.

The caucus says the disruption raises serious questions about the government’s financial planning, contract management and oversight of the country’s digital health infrastructure.

In a press statement dated November 6, 2026, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, said the Ghana Health Service (GHS) had disclosed in a communication dated November 2 that critical electronic health information systems, including the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), had been inaccessible since October 29.

The shutdown reportedly followed the suspension of ten servers by Akamai over an outstanding payment of US$64,510.95.

The Minority described the development as troubling, particularly against the backdrop of government’s assurances that the introduction of the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) would strengthen national control over health data and reduce dependence on private service providers.

In October 2025, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh announced the introduction of GHIMS to replace the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).

Although GHIMS and DHIMS2 perform different functions, the Minority says both are part of Ghana’s wider digital health ecosystem, raising concerns about the sustainability of the government’s digital health strategy.

The caucus has also questioned the resources committed to the digital health transformation, noting that the Ministry of Health’s budget increased from approximately GH¢17.8 billion in 2025 to GH¢22.8 billion in 2026, representing a 28 per cent nominal increase.

It is, however, demanding a detailed account of the specific allocations and expenditure on GHIMS and related digital infrastructure, as well as the measurable outcomes achieved.

The Minority further criticised the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for allowing outstanding contractual obligations to result in the disruption of critical national health information systems.

It also questioned Akamai’s decision to suspend the services despite the potential public health consequences, although it acknowledged that contractual obligations must be respected.

The caucus has called on the Ministry to review its agreement with Akamai and consider terminating the contract where justified by the established facts and contractual provisions.

Among its demands, the Minority wants government to immediately restore the affected systems and provide a clear timeline for their full operational recovery.

It is also calling for a comprehensive account of GHIMS expenditure, including budgetary allocations, actual spending, implementation progress and integration with existing health information systems.

Additionally, the caucus wants an investigation into the Akamai suspension to establish institutional responsibility and determine appropriate corrective action.

It has proposed an independent audit of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure, covering hosting arrangements, interoperability, data security and business continuity.

The Minority says sustainable financing and infrastructure safeguards must also be established to prevent similar disruptions.

It maintains that Ghana’s digital health transformation must be measured by the reliability, accessibility and sustainability of systems serving the public, rather than simply the introduction of new platforms