Turning Point Foundation Health Watch: Health Minister Accuses LHIMS Contractor of Blackmail Amid Widespread NHIS System Disruptions

Ghana’s health system has faced significant disruptions in recent weeks as technical failures crippled access to the electronic healthcare management platform used under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Many hospitals and clinics across the country were forced to revert to manual operations, leading to long queues, delayed services, and interruptions in patient care.

At the center of the crisis is the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), the digital platform responsible for managing patient records and facilitating claims under the NHIS. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has accused the system’s contractor of underperformance and, in his words, “blackmail.” The allegations and the system’s collapse have raised serious questions about accountability, data integrity, and the reliability of Ghana’s digital health infrastructure.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 29, Minister Akandoh announced that the Ministry of Health has begun a complete overhaul of the digital system, replacing LHIMS with a new platform—the Ghana Health Information Management System (GHIMS). This transition forms part of a four-week emergency plan to restore digital operations and prevent further service breakdowns.

The minister explained that the government signed a $100 million contract with Lightwave in 2019 to connect 950 health facilities nationwide. However, by the end of 2024, only 450 facilities—less than half the target—had been connected, even though over 70 percent of the contract sum, about $77 million, had already been paid. A subsequent forensic audit revealed financial and operational irregularities, including missing equipment, substitution of lower-grade hardware, and an estimated $18 million shortfall in hardware delivery alone.

Another major concern is data sovereignty. The audit revealed that LHIMS data was hosted on servers outside Ghana, specifically in India, raising alarms about the country’s control over citizens’ medical records after the contract’s expiration.

Under the four-week restoration plan, the Ministry aims to migrate facilities onto GHIMS in phases. The first week will focus on teaching hospitals, regional hospitals, and large district hospitals. The second week will cover the remaining district hospitals, while clinics, health centers, and CHPS compounds will be transitioned in the third phase. The goal is to fully restore digital health operations and ensure continuity of care without returning to manual systems.

Minister Akandoh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a secure and transparent digital health system, pledging stronger oversight in future contracts. “The medical records of Ghanaians would never go back to the manual way. We are moving forward—responsibly, confidently, and decisively,” he said.

Turning Point Foundation views this transition as a critical test of Ghana’s commitment to digital health equity. The system failures have not only exposed weaknesses in infrastructure and governance but have also affected citizens’ access to care, particularly for vulnerable populations reliant on the NHIS. Ensuring accountability, protecting patient data, and prioritizing uninterrupted healthcare access must be at the heart of the government’s digital health agenda.

As the new GHIMS platform rolls out, Turning Point Foundation calls for continuous public updates, independent monitoring, and strong stakeholder engagement to safeguard both data integrity and patient trust. Reliable health information systems are the backbone of equitable healthcare—and Ghana’s citizens deserve one that works.