BY Daniel Bampoe
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has formally appointed the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri Constituency and Minority Chief Whip, Annoh-Dompreh, as a member of the Continental Immunization Advisory Council (CIAC), giving the Ghanaian legislator a new responsibility in shaping Africa’s immunization and public health agenda.
The formal appointment follows an invitation from Africa CDC to Hon. Annoh-Dompreh on 14 August 2026, in which the continental public health institution identified him for consideration for membership of the Council.
In that letter, the Director of the Immunization Directorate of Africa CDC, Dr. Folake Olayinka, said the selection consideration was based on his leadership, experience and contribution to the immunization and health agenda, development and social impact in Africa and globally, as well as the strategic perspective he could bring to the Council.
The August 14 letter explained that the CIAC was being established as a high-level, independent advisory body to Africa CDC on immunization, responsible for advice and thought leadership to support implementation of the Continental Immunization Strategy (CIS) 2026–2030.
Africa CDC’s wider call for CIAC membership similarly described the Council as a strategic platform intended to accelerate implementation of the continental immunization strategy and bring together political, technical, financing, community and policy perspectives.
According to the invitation letter, the Council is expected to help accelerate immunization uptake and ensure that Africa’s immunization agenda remains firmly anchored in political leadership, accountability and country ownership. Its membership is designed to draw on expertise from public health, government, parliament, finance, academia, civil society, communities, the private sector and other strategic constituencies.
The Council’s agenda will cover some of the major challenges confronting immunization programmes across the continent.
These include sustainable domestic financing for immunization, reaching zero-dose and underserved populations, vaccine security, African vaccine manufacturing, stronger primary healthcare systems and protecting immunization gains in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Africa CDC had earlier opened the process for identifying distinguished African leaders, experts and advocates to serve on the CIAC, with members expected to provide strategic guidance, advocacy and leadership towards the implementation of the Continental Immunization Strategy.
The published call also identified political and parliamentary influence, public health, health financing, community engagement and health systems strengthening among the areas of expertise relevant to the Council.
The August 14 invitation further stated that membership would be by individual appointment, meaning members would serve in their personal and independent capacities rather than as representatives of their respective institutions.
The governance arrangements would also require members to declare and appropriately manage any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
The Legislator, Annoh-Dompreh, subsequently accepted the invitation. The acceptance section attached to the letter bears his name and is dated 20 August 2026, confirming his willingness to serve on the Council.
The latest development came in a separate formal appointment letter dated 31 August 2026, in which Africa CDC confirmed that Hon. Annoh-Dompreh had been appointed as a member of the Continental Immunization Advisory Council following the completion of the selection process and his acceptance to serve.
The new appointment is for a two-year term effective from 27 August 2026, with the possibility of renewal once in accordance with the Council’s Terms of Reference. This makes the August 31 document significant because it moves the process beyond an invitation and acceptance to a formal appointment with a defined tenure.
Under the terms outlined in the appointment letter, Annoh-Dompreh is expected to contribute his expertise independently and in Africa’s collective interest, identify and elevate emerging issues requiring continental attention, and use his leadership, expertise and influence to support agreed immunization priorities.
He will also be expected to contribute to efforts aimed at promoting accountability for the effective implementation and delivery of the Continental Immunization Strategy across African Union Member States.
The formal appointment letter places particular emphasis on integrity, transparency, independence and confidentiality. Members are expected to uphold these standards while appropriately disclosing and managing potential conflicts of interest.
The Council is expected ordinarily to convene one virtual meeting and one in-person meeting each year, with additional focused consultations where necessary. Africa CDC’s Secretariat will provide coordination and follow-up support for the Council’s activities.
The appointment comes at a time when Africa CDC is advancing a continent-wide strategy aimed at strengthening immunization systems and addressing persistent gaps in vaccination coverage.
The Continental Immunization Strategy 2026–2030 seeks to place immunization within stronger primary healthcare and health-security systems while addressing equity gaps and reaching children and populations who remain underserved.
