The Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, has blamed the government’s inability to clear antiretroviral drugs at the port on clearing charges.
This comes after the Minority demanded that the government issue the necessary tax exemption to ensure the immediate clearance of antiretroviral drugs and other medical equipment and consumables currently at the country’s ports.
The Minority’s demand follows the alleged neglect of donated containers of HIV antiretroviral drugs since July this year at the ports, which has created needless shortages for People Living with HIV (PLHIV).
Dr Atuahene said in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday that “I have clarified that we still have some commodities at the port. The goods not being released is not exactly because of tax waivers, it is because of other clearing charges at the port. And when these charges have not been paid then it is likely to go into demurrage and demurrage charges will apply and this will obviously increase the bill and that is the challenge we are having.”
He added “And for me, this is about funding for the HIV programme in the country. We do not have enough resources to run the HIV programme, and provide all the services that are supposed to be provided for the people who need them. We currently have about 33% of the funds required for the HIV programme.”
