In a move that underscores Ghana’s rising leadership in continental health policy, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has been appointed as a Secretariat Member of the African High-Level Ministerial Committee (AHLMC). Her new role will see her helping to steer the reform of the global health architecture, ensuring that Africa’s interests and its citizens are placed at the heart of future health systems.
The AHLMC, a flagship initiative of the African Union, was established to cement Africa’s influence in global health decision-making and champion a more equitable, coherent, and effective international health system. Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who also serves as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, received her appointment in an official letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by the Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya. The appointment follows a decision by the AU Assembly at its 39th Ordinary Session held in February 2026.
Under the direction of the Africa CDC and with support from member states such as Ghana and South Africa, the Secretariat delivers strategic, technical, and operational assistance to the committee. Its responsibilities include engaging high-level stakeholders, providing policy and analytical support, coordinating partners, and implementing agreed reforms.
As a member of this Secretariat, Dr Ayensu-Danquah will contribute her expertise to critical priorities such as health governance reform, sustainable financing, equity in healthcare access, resilient health systems, and improved data and accountability. Each of these thematic areas benefits from a dedicated Secretariat, ensuring coordinated action and high-quality outcomes for the continent.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s credentials are both impressive and wide-ranging. A board-certified general surgeon with advanced fellowship training in trauma, burns, and reconstructive surgery, she is recognised as a leading public health policy expert. Her career includes pivotal roles in Ghana’s health sector, where she has supported efforts to strengthen health systems, expand access to care, and align Ghana’s policies with regional and continental frameworks.
The appointment has been seen as a reflection of growing confidence in President John Dramani Mahama’s health policies. It also aligns with the government’s renewed emphasis on health sovereignty, health system strengthening, preventive care, and regional cooperation. President Mahama has made significant investments in public health financing, revitalised the National Health Insurance Scheme, and expanded access to primary healthcare, especially in underserved communities. Notably, he recently introduced the Free Primary Healthcare policy, aimed at helping Ghana reach Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
To further these ambitions, President Mahama launched the Ghana Medical Health Trust—an initiative designed to mobilise sustainable funding for critical healthcare delivery, infrastructure, and specialist care. This trust is intended to complement public health financing by channelling resources into priority medical interventions, tertiary care, and high-quality treatment for complex health conditions.
The government’s commitment to deepening Ghana’s role in continental and global health governance is equally strong, with active support for initiatives promoting equitable access to medicines, local manufacturing, disease surveillance, and data accountability.
Dr Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, praised Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s experience and leadership, stating that her involvement would “greatly enrich the work of the AHLMC Secretariat” and help drive meaningful reform in global health systems.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s academic background includes medical degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Southern California, along with a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, all in the United States. She maintains active medical licences in California, Michigan, and Maryland, operates a private surgical facility in Accra, and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah’s Center for Global Surgery.
Her service record extends to the Technical Advisory Committee on the Safety of Vaccines and Biological Products of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority and Days for Girls International Ghana. Through the Healing Hands Organisation, a non-governmental organisation.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com