No Ghanaian Should Die Because of GH¢ — Govt Moves to Make Blood Free!
In order to provide fair healthcare for all, the government has made a commitment to eliminate the financial hurdles that are keeping Ghanaians from receiving life-saving blood transfusions. This is a significant policy effort. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Deputy Minister of Health, made the announcement during the 25th National Blood Donor Day celebration and the launch of the 2026 Annual Voluntary Blood Donation Campaign in Accra, which was themed “Give Blood, Give Hope, Together We Can Save Lives.” In a statement on behalf of the Vice President, she said that the Ministry is investigating ways to lower the fees associated with blood processing so that no Ghanaian is turned away from receiving transfusions due to financial constraints. This is being done as part of a broader initiative to bolster infrastructure, equipment, and logistics throughout the district and regional blood services. Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service (NBS), emphasized the immediate need for a larger number of voluntary donors. She noted that only forty percent of the blood supply at present is obtained from voluntary donations, while the remainder is obtained from family replacements. She also made a plea to the people of Ghana to assist in meeting the annual target of 308,000 units. The event also paid tribute to institutions and donors who stood out, including Andrews Kwasi Siaw, who received the title of National Best Blood Donor for making 63 donations, followed by Joseph Sunny Acquah, who made 62 donations, and Adu Gyamfi Buadi, who made 61 donations. Aaron Obeng was awarded the title of Best Youth Donor, and Margaret Darko was awarded the title of Best Female Donor. In terms of schools, Accra Academy ranked first with 491 donations, followed by Kumasi Academy and Koforidua Secondary Technical.
