The Senior Country Manager for Ghana at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Mr. Martin Morand, has paid a courtesy call on the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as part of his first official mission to the country, marking the beginning of high-level engagements on the future of Ghana’s immunisation financing and long-term sustainability.

The visit formed part of a broader country mission aimed at strengthening coordination and building a shared understanding around immunisation financing over the next four years, supporting Ghana’s transition roadmap, and ensuring alignment between national priorities and available support under the Gavi 6.0 strategic framework.

During the meeting, Mr. Morand and his delegation engaged the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, alongside selected directors of the Service.

Discussions focused on the financial and operational implications of Ghana’s gradual transition from Gavi support, the sustainability of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), and the need for early, deliberate planning in the context of declining external financing.

Mr. Morand stressed the urgency of finalising Ghana’s National Immunisation Strategy, describing it as a critical and comprehensive document that must clearly outline the full cost of implementing the EPI programme.

According to him, a robust, well-costed strategy would strengthen advocacy efforts and reduce the risk of Ghana losing essential support during the transition period.

He further called for closer collaboration with partners, including UNICEF and other relevant sectors, to ensure a smooth, coordinated, and well-managed transition.

As part of efforts to improve financial sustainability, he also recommended exploring switches from certain vaccine products to more affordable alternatives where appropriate.

In his response, Dr. Akoriyea reaffirmed the government’s commitment to immunisation financing and to safeguarding the health of Ghanaians against vaccine-preventable diseases.

He welcomed Gavi’s readiness to share lessons and experiences from countries that have successfully transitioned from external support, noting that such insights would be invaluable in preparing Ghana for the process.

Dr. Akoriyea also reiterated concerns about ownership and long-term sustainability of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation and urged all stakeholders to take collective responsibility to ensure the programme remains resilient and fully supported by domestic resources in the years ahead.