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Ghana’s blood supply falls short of annual needs — NBS
Ghana faces a severe shortfall in blood supply, collecting far less than the 300,000 units required annually, according to the National Blood Service (NBS).
Despite a population exceeding 30 million, annual collections remain under 200,000 units, typically around 180,000.
Dr Dilys John-Teye, Acting Head of the Southern Zonal Blood Centre, revealed this during an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the launch of the 2025 Nationwide Blood Donation Campaign by the Melcom Care Foundation in Accra.
The exercise is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, at four selected schools; Thursday, July 24, across Melcom stores nationwide; and Saturday, July 26, at Accra, Achimota, and West Hills Malls, as well as the Melcom Mall at Spintex.
Dr John-Teye said fewer than 50 per cent of donations are from voluntary, non-remunerated donors.
“Many patients in need of blood, especially mothers in labour, accident victims, and children with severe anaemia, do not receive transfusions on time simply because the blood is not available,” she lamented.
Dr John-Teye explained that ideally, one per cent of the population should donate annually, adding that the ongoing reliance on family replacement donations reflects the national deficit.
“The ideal situation is for blood to be available in hospitals at all times, ready to be administered when emergencies strike. But the reality is that hospitals often run low, and patients are left waiting or turned away,” she added.
Describing hospital-led blood collection as “unfortunate but necessary,” she urged healthy individuals aged 17 to 60 to donate regularly to ease the strain on the health system and reduce preventable deaths.
Dr Ramesh Sadhwani, Managing Director of the Melcom Group of Companies, said the firm has partnered with the National Blood Service for over a decade to promote voluntary donations.
The company’s contribution has grown from 434 units in 2013 to 2,184 in 2023.
“Melcom’s commitment goes beyond corporate social responsibility; it reflects our values of compassion, patriotism, and service to humanity,”
He called on individuals, corporate bodies, and institutions to support the initiative and help cultivate a culture of voluntary blood donation across the nation. –GNA
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
