Source: Ebenezer De-Gaulle
Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has been appointed to serve as a Secretariat Member of a key African Union body tasked with reshaping global health governance.
Her appointment to the African High-Level Ministerial Committee (AHLMC) was confirmed in a letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision follows approval by the African Union Assembly during its 39th Ordinary Session in February.
The AHLMC is a flagship AU initiative aimed at strengthening Africa’s influence in global health decision-making and advocating reforms to create a more equitable and effective international health system.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress, will contribute to shaping policies on health governance, financing, equity in access to care, and resilient health systems.
Strengthening Africa’s Voice in Global Health
Under the AHLMC framework, the Secretariat—led by the Africa CDC and supported by member states such as Ghana and South Africa—provides strategic, technical, and operational support to drive reforms across the continent.
The committee’s work includes high-level policy engagement, stakeholder coordination, and analytical support to advance Africa’s collective position in global health governance.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s appointment is expected to bolster Ghana’s role in these efforts, positioning the country as an active contributor to continental health policy reforms.
Alignment with Ghana’s Health Agenda
The development also aligns with the broader health agenda of President John Dramani Mahama, which emphasises health system strengthening, preventive care, and regional collaboration.
Recent initiatives under the administration include efforts to expand primary healthcare access, improve public health financing, and restore confidence in the National Health Insurance Scheme. The government has also introduced programmes such as the Free Primary Healthcare policy and the Ghana Medical Health Trust to support long-term healthcare delivery and infrastructure development.
Extensive Medical and Policy Experience
A board-certified general surgeon and public health policy expert, Dr Ayensu-Danquah brings significant experience to the role. She has held leadership positions in Ghana’s health sector and contributed to initiatives aimed at improving access to care and aligning national policies with regional frameworks.
Dr Kaseya noted that her expertise would “greatly enrich the work of the AHLMC Secretariat” and support meaningful reforms in global health systems.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah holds medical degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Southern California, as well as a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah.
Beyond her public service, she leads the Healing Hands Organisation, a non-governmental initiative that provides free medical care and supports rural health facilities in Ghana.
Her appointment underscores growing efforts by African leaders to strengthen the continent’s influence in global health systems and ensure more equitable access to healthcare resources worldwide.
