BY DANIEL BAMPOE
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has selected Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri Constituency, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, for membership of a newly established high-level continental body expected to shape Africa’s future immunisation policies.
In a formal letter dated 14 August 2026, the Africa CDC invited Annoh-Dompreh to serve on the Continental Immunization Advisory Council (CIAC), citing his leadership, expertise and contribution to the health, development and social-impact agenda in Africa and globally.
The invitation, signed by Dr. Folake Olayinka, Director of the Immunization Directorate of Africa CDC, described the CIAC as an independent advisory body that will provide strategic guidance and thought leadership to the continental health agency on immunisation.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh has subsequently accepted the invitation, with the acceptance dated 20 August 2026, paving the way for his participation in the continental advisory body.
The appointment comes at a time when African countries are seeking to strengthen domestic capacity in vaccine production, financing and distribution while protecting immunisation gains made over the years.
According to the Africa CDC, the Council is being constituted to bring together influential figures and experts from public health, politics and government, finance, parliaments, academia, civil society, communities, the private sector and other strategic constituencies.
Its mandate will be closely linked to the implementation of the Continental Immunization Strategy (CIS) 2026–2030, with particular attention to increasing immunisation uptake and ensuring that Africa’s vaccination agenda is driven by political leadership, accountability and country ownership.
Annoh-Dompreh’s Parliamentary Health Role
The new continental responsibility builds on Annoh-Dompreh’s existing involvement in health policy and parliamentary oversight at the continental level.
He has served as Chairperson of the Pan-African Parliament’s Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, where he has been involved in deliberations on maternal and neonatal health, health security, health sovereignty, traditional medicine, pandemic preparedness and the strengthening of African health systems.
Under his leadership and the Committee’s work, the Pan-African Parliament has placed particular emphasis on reducing Africa’s dependence on external health financing, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical technologies and supply chains.
The Committee has also advocated stronger collaboration between the Pan-African Parliament and Africa CDC, including efforts to strengthen legislation, parliamentary oversight, domestic financing and African ownership of health systems.
The CIAC invitation therefore extends Hon. Annoh-Dompreh’s parliamentary health-policy engagement into a specialised continental immunisation platform.
Major Issues Awaiting The New Council
Africa CDC said the Council will confront some of the continent’s most pressing immunisation challenges.
Among them is the need for sustainable domestic financing for vaccination programmes, particularly as African countries seek to reduce dependence on external funding for essential health interventions.
The Council will also focus on reaching zero-dose and underserved populations, including communities that remain outside routine immunisation systems because of geographical, economic, social or security-related barriers.
Another major area will be vaccine security and African manufacturing. The continent has faced persistent challenges relating to its dependence on imported vaccines, medicines and other essential health products. Strengthening local and regional manufacturing capacity has consequently become an important component of Africa’s broader health-sovereignty agenda.
The Council is also expected to examine the resilience of primary healthcare systems and ways of protecting immunisation programmes in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where health infrastructure and access to communities can be severely disrupted.
Africa’s Health Sovereignty Health
The development comes against the background of growing calls for African countries to take greater ownership of their health security.
Recent health emergencies, including Ebola, COVID-19, mpox, Marburg and other outbreaks, exposed weaknesses in Africa’s health systems and highlighted the continent’s reliance on external sources for vaccines, medicines, financing, technology and emergency supplies.
The Africa CDC’s health-security and sovereignty agenda has therefore increasingly focused on stronger public health institutions, domestic health financing, local manufacturing, a skilled health workforce and African ownership of health data.
Hon. Annoh-Dompreh has consistently participated in discussions around these issues through his work at the Pan-African Parliament, particularly the argument that Africa’s health systems must become more resilient and less dependent on external support.
Individual And Independent Role
The Africa CDC made clear that membership of the CIAC will be by individual appointment, meaning members will serve in their personal and independent capacities rather than as representatives of their respective institutions.
The Council’s governance arrangements will also include declarations and management of potential conflicts of interest.
The Africa CDC said it believes Hon. Annoh-Dompreh’s experience and perspective will contribute to the Council’s ability to provide practical, Africa-led advice and solutions to the continent’s immunisation challenges.
His acceptance of the invitation is expected to position him among the political and policy voices contributing to the development and implementation of Africa’s immunisation priorities for the 2026–2030 period.
