Deputy Health Minister appointed to AU Secretariat on global health
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has been appointed as a Secretariat Member of the African High Level Ministerial Committee (AHLMC) to help lead the reform of the global health architecture in a way that benefits the continent and its citizens.
The AHLMC is a flagship African Union initiative aimed at strengthening Africa’s influence in global health decision-making, and Dr Ayensu-Danquah is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s appointment was announced in a letter dated April 13, 2026,and signed by the Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr Jean Kaseya, following a decision by the AU Assembly at its 39th Ordinary Session in February 2026.
The committee was established to consolidate Africa’s position and push for a more equitable, coherent and effective global health system.
Role
Under the AHLMC 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.
Its work spans high level engagement, policy and analytical support, stakeholder coordination and delivery of agreed reforms.
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, equity in access to healthcare, resilient health systems, data and accountability.
Each thematic workstream is supported by a dedicated Secretariat to ensure coordination and high-quality outcomes.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah, a seasoned public health policy expert with advanced fellowship training in trauma, burns and reconstructive surgery, has played a central role in Ghana’s health sector leadership, supporting national efforts to strengthen health systems, expand access to care and align domestic health policy with regional and continental frameworks.
The CDC Director-General said Dr Ayensu-Danquah’s experience and leadership at both national and continental levels would “greatly enrich the work of the AHLMC Secretariat” and help drive meaningful reform in global health systems.
Ghana’s influence
The Deputy Minister of Health’s appointment to the AHLMC positions Ghana prominently within Africa’s push to reshape global health governance and amplify the continent’s collective voice.
The appointment also aligns with the government’s broader health agenda under President John Dramani Mahama, which places renewed emphasis on health sovereignty through health system strengthening, preventive care and regional cooperation.
The government has also pledged to deepen Ghana’s role in continental and global health governance, backing initiatives that promote equity in access to medicines, local manufacturing of health products, stronger disease surveillance and data accountability.
