Ghana Faces $78m Health Funding Gap as US Aid Cuts Threaten Child Immunisation

Ghana’s childhood immunisation programme is facing new financial pressure following cuts to US-supported health programmes.

The country is estimated to be facing a $78.2 million shortfall in health funding, with concerns that the funding gap could affect vaccination outreach, transportation and other essential health services.

Ghana has made significant progress in childhood vaccination and was among the African countries that introduced the RTS,S malaria vaccine into routine immunisation.

Health officials and civil society organisations are now calling for stronger domestic financing to protect those gains.

The situation is particularly worrying for rural communities where healthcare workers depend on transport, cold-chain equipment and outreach programmes to reach children.

Ghana is already preparing for greater domestic responsibility for financing its immunisation programme as international support gradually changes.