Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has been appointed as a Secretariat Member of the African High-Level Ministerial Committee (AHLMC).
The appointment was formalized in a letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by the Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya. This follows a strategic decision made by the African Union Assembly during its 39th Ordinary Session in February 2026.
The AHLMC serves as a flagship African Union initiative designed to strengthen the continent’s influence in global health decision-making.
The committee was established to consolidate Africa’s position and advocate for a more equitable, coherent, and effective global health system.
Under this framework, the Secretariat provides the strategic, technical, and operational support necessary to deliver agreed-upon reforms.
Led by the Africa CDC and supported by member states including Ghana and South Africa, the Secretariat’s work encompasses high-level policy engagement, stakeholder coordination, and analytical support.
As a Secretariat member, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah will contribute her expertise to advancing critical thematic workstreams such as health governance reform, sustainable financing, and resilient health systems.
Her role is central to ensuring equity in healthcare access and improving data accountability across the continent. Dr. Kaseya emphasized that her extensive leadership experience at both national and continental levels will greatly enrich the Secretariat’s efforts to drive meaningful reform in the global health architecture.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah’s appointment positions Ghana prominently within Africa’s push to amplify its collective voice.
This international role aligns seamlessly with the broader health agenda of President John Dramani Mahama, which emphasises health sovereignty through system strengthening and regional cooperation.
President Mahama has prioritized rebuilding the National Health Insurance Scheme and expanding primary healthcare to underserved communities.
Key initiatives such as the Free Primary Healthcare policy and the Ghana Medical Health Trust further demonstrate the government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 and securing sustainable funding for specialist medical interventions.
A board-certified general surgeon and seasoned public health policy expert, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah brings a wealth of clinical and academic prestige to the committee.
She 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.
Her clinical background includes advanced fellowship training in trauma, burns, and reconstructive surgery.
She maintains active medical licenses in California, Michigan, and Maryland, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah’s Center for Global Surgery.
In Ghana, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah has been a pivotal figure in health leadership, having served on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Food and Drugs Authority regarding vaccine safety. Beyond her official duties, she operates a private surgical facility in Accra and leads the Healing Hands Organisation.
This non-governmental medical organization provides free surgical care to marginalized populations and donates critical medical equipment to rural facilities.
She is a recognized fellow of several prestigious institutions, including the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
