Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Grace Ayensu Danquah, has been appointed as a Secretariat Member of the African High-Level Ministerial Committee, a key body tasked with advancing reforms in global health governance to better serve the African continent.
The appointment forms part of a flagship initiative by the African Union aimed at strengthening Africa’s voice in global health decision-making. Dr Ayensu-Danquah also serves as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan.
Her appointment was confirmed in a letter dated April 13, 2026, signed by Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, following a decision taken at the AU Assembly’s 39th Ordinary Session in February 2026.
The AHLMC was established to consolidate Africa’s position in global health governance and advocate for a more equitable, coherent, and effective international health system. Under its framework, the Secretariat—led by the Africa CDC and supported by member states including Ghana and South Africa—provides strategic, technical, and operational support to the committee’s work.
As a Secretariat member, Dr Ayensu-Danquah, a board-certified general surgeon, will contribute to advancing key priorities such as health governance reform, sustainable financing, equitable access to healthcare, resilient health systems, and improved data accountability.
Her appointment is seen as elevating Ghana’s role in continental health leadership, aligning with broader national efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and expand access.
The development also complements the health agenda of John Dramani Mahama, which focuses on health system strengthening, preventive care, and regional collaboration. The government has prioritised rebuilding confidence in the National Health Insurance Scheme and expanding access to primary healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.
As part of these efforts, the administration has introduced the Free Primary Healthcare policy aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, and launched the Ghana Medical Health Trust to mobilise sustainable funding for critical healthcare services and infrastructure.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah brings extensive experience to the role, with a background in public health policy and advanced training in trauma, burns, and reconstructive surgery. She has held key roles in Ghana’s health sector and continues to contribute to medical education and practice both locally and internationally.
Dr Kaseya noted that her expertise and leadership would “greatly enrich” the work of the Secretariat and support efforts to drive meaningful reforms in global health systems.
