BY DANIEL BAMPOE
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has expressed concern over the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) allocation of GH¢250 million to the National Identification Authority (NIA) for the procurement of Ghana Cards, questioning why such a substantial amount could be made available for identification cards while maternal healthcare continues to face funding challenges.
The committee’s concerns emerged during discussions on healthcare financing, where members argued that a similar financial commitment could help strengthen maternal healthcare services and reduce preventable deaths among pregnant women and newborns.
The controversy follows an earlier proposal announced in 2024 to allocate approximately GH¢245 million for the procurement of Ghana Cards for children aged between six and 14.
During its engagement with the committee, NHIA management reportedly confirmed that the funding commitment had been implemented, with the amount subsequently put at GH¢250 million.
The disclosure triggered questions from committee members about the rationale behind the arrangement, particularly given that the NIA generates revenue from the issuance of identification cards.
PAC Chairperson and former Finance Minister Abena Osei-Asare questioned why the NHIA had committed such a significant amount to support the card procurement exercise when the NIA could, in principle, finance its operations through its own revenue arrangements.
“Last week, we sat here when NHIA told us that they gave GH¢250 million to the NIA to buy cards, when NIA on their own can buy these cards, because they charge for every card that is made. So these are some of the interventions we want to see,” she said.
Her comments reflected the committee’s concern that public institutions must carefully prioritise expenditure, particularly when resources are needed to address urgent health challenges.
Ms Osei Asare argued that if the NHIA could make GH¢250 million available to support the production of three million Ghana Cards, it should also consider providing comparable financial assistance to maternal healthcare programmes.
“If NHIA can make space of GH¢250 million for NIA to buy three million cards, they should be able to make the same for maternal healthcare,” she stated.
She said the committee intended to raise the matter during the forthcoming budget discussions and push for dedicated funding to support the maternal healthcare initiative being implemented at the primary healthcare level.
According to her, such financial support could help reduce maternal deaths and improve access to essential services for pregnant women, particularly those who require urgent medical attention.
Maternal Deaths Remain a Major Healthcare Concern
The committee’s intervention comes amid continuing concerns about Ghana’s ability to reduce maternal mortality and meet its maternal health targets.
Figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate that institutional maternal deaths increased from 779 in 2016 to 955 in 2025, highlighting the persistent difficulties confronting the country’s healthcare system in preventing deaths associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
The institutional maternal mortality ratio also rose from 109.22 in 2023 to 110 in 2024, underscoring the need for stronger interventions to improve maternal outcomes.
Maternal deaths can result from several complications, including excessive bleeding, high blood pressure during pregnancy and childbirth, infections and delays in receiving appropriate medical care.
The situation can become more dangerous when pregnant women are unable to reach health facilities quickly or when hospitals lack the blood supplies, essential medicines, equipment and specialist personnel needed to manage emergencies.
Delayed referrals from lower-level facilities to hospitals capable of providing advanced obstetric care also remain a concern. In emergencies, delays in transportation, diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce a woman’s chances of survival.
Against this background, PAC members believe that stronger financial support for maternal healthcare should be a priority in the allocation of public resources.
Government Launches PRIMER to Reduce Preventable Deaths
In response to the continuing challenge, the government launched the five-year Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER) on September 14, 2026.
The initiative is intended to strengthen the healthcare system’s response to emergencies involving pregnant women and newborns through improvements in referral systems, transportation, staffing and access to essential medical supplies.
Its success will depend partly on whether health facilities have the resources required to respond promptly when complications arise during pregnancy, labour and delivery.
Adequate funding is particularly important for emergency obstetric care, where delays in accessing blood, oxygen, surgery or specialist treatment can have fatal consequences.
However, the initiative’s objectives could be difficult to achieve without sustainable financing and effective coordination between the government, health authorities and other institutions responsible for healthcare delivery.
This is why the call for dedicated maternal healthcare funding has become increasingly important in discussions about the NHIA’s spending priorities.
Deputy Health Minister Calls for Dedicated Funding
Deputy Health Minister Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah has appealed for increased government support and a dedicated funding arrangement for maternal healthcare, warning that Ghana risks falling short of its 2030 maternal health targets without sustainable domestic financing.
