Ghana through Parliament with the blessing of the Speaker has taken a significant step towards ensuring the sustainability of its immunization programs with formation and formal launch of the Parliamentary Immunization Caucus made up 13-MPs.
The Caucus chaired by Dr. Sandaare Ngmenenso Sandaare, the Member of Parliament for Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, aimed at boosting domestic financing for vaccines, was officially announced during a parliamentary session attended by Members of Parliament, development partners, civil society organizations, and the media.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and religious Affais and MP for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley-Sowah, emphasized the critical importance of immunization as a national investment. She noted that vaccines are among the most cost-effective public health interventions and underscored the role of Parliament in safeguarding the health and future prosperity of Ghanaian children and communities.
“The establishment of this Caucus demonstrates our Parliament’s commitment to accountable and forward-looking leadership in health financing,” Madam Odoley stated. She highlighted the government’s dedication to maintaining and expanding immunization funding, citing recent achievements such as a 46% increase in vaccine allocation in 2025, amounting to approximately USD 171 million, which fully covered the country’s vaccine financing obligations last year.
The Deputy Minister outlined Ghana’s strategies to sustain immunization financing, including timely budget submissions, strengthening budget lines for vaccines, and fostering collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, development partners, and the private sector. She also emphasized transparency in vaccine procurement and efforts to include private sector participation in resource mobilization.
Odoley further expressed Ghana’s commitment to transitioning towards vaccine self-financing, with the goal of becoming a vaccine-sovereign nation. She reaffirmed ongoing partnerships with GAVI, WHO, UNICEF, civil society, and traditional leaders to support this vision.
She concluded by urging collective resolve from all stakeholders to chart a sustainable path for immunization financing—one that will protect public health gains and secure Ghana’s health future for generations to come.
On her part, the Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Hellen Adjoa Ntoso expressed support for the Caucus, emphasizing that immunization is a vital tool in social protection by preventing vulnerability, especially among children, women, and low-income families.
Vaccines help reduce poverty caused by preventable illnesses and lessen the burden on social services and healthcare systems. Investing in immunization allows the government to allocate resources towards education, nutrition, livelihoods, and protection for at-risk children, thereby strengthening social welfare overall.
Other members are: Alexander Akwasi Acquah-Vice Chair, Dr. Kurt mark Nawaane, Dr. Nanan Ayew Afriye,Dr. Patrick Boakye Yiadom, Charles Agbeve, Professor, Dr. Titus Kofi Beyuo and Isaac Adongo.
The rest are: Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, Millicent Amankwah yeboah, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, Hellen Adjoa Ntoso and Nana Osei-Adjei
