Akandoh reveals development of Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) to replace private vendor system
The Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that Ghana is developing its own digital health information system to ensure state ownership of the country’s medical records, following significant challenges with a private vendor contract.
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency on Wednesday October 29,2025, Minister Akandoh assured Ghanaians that the country’s medical records will remain digital despite recent disruptions, emphasizing that the government is moving forward “responsibly, confidently, and decisively” to secure national health data.
The Minister revealed that the government has developed a new Ghana-owned platform — the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS) — to replace the system previously managed by private vendor Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS).
“The Games is Ghana’s Health Information Management System, and not for any individual,” Minister Akandoh stated, referring to the new system by its alternative name.
Speaking about the challenges that previously affected the sector, Minister Akandoh identified a critical flaw in the previous arrangement: “One of the major issues was that the software used in managing health data did not belong to the state.”
He stressed that this created control and sustainability challenges, adding: “When we are going for any new software, the software must be for the state.”
The move comes after significant underperformance by the previous contractor. According to government records, Ghana signed a $100 million contract with Lightwave in 2019 to connect 950 health facilities. However, by the contract’s extended expiration in December 2024, only 450 facilities had been connected despite the company receiving approximately $77 million.
Minister Akandoh outlined major reforms to Ghana’s health information management system, aimed at:
– Ensuring state ownership of health data systems
– Improving interoperability across health facilities
– Breaking the monopoly that has hindered digital health progress
The Minister also announced a comprehensive four-week plan aimed at resolving the ongoing challenges facing the country’s health facilities.
The transition to the state-owned GHIMS represents a strategic shift toward greater government control over critical health infrastructure, ensuring continuity of digital health services without dependence on private vendors.
The government’s decisive action aims to maintain Ghana’s commitment to digital health records while establishing a more sustainable, state-controlled system for the future.
