WAHO Reviews $9.3m Health Funding Accountability in Freetown Meeting

The management and impact of regional health funding have come under fresh scrutiny as West African health stakeholders meet in Freetown to assess whether financial support to member states is delivering tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) has convened its Annual Steering Committee Meeting on financial support to ECOWAS Member States, bringing together parliamentarians, finance officials, country liaison officers, and health professionals from across the region.

The three-day meeting, running from April 14 to 16, 2026, is focused on reviewing the performance of health programmes, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and improving coordination in the use of regional health funds.

At the centre of discussions is how effectively millions of dollars in health financing are translating into better services for citizens across West Africa, amid growing pressure on health systems and limited domestic resources.

WAHO says the meeting will assess progress since the establishment of its Steering Committees in 2024, identify implementation gaps, and agree on practical measures to improve efficiency and accountability across member states.

In his opening remarks, outgoing Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee, Emmanuel Awe, commended WAHO’s structured approach to health interventions, describing it as a key driver of regional health sector development.

However, discussions quickly shifted toward accountability, with delegates stressing that funding must be matched by stronger oversight and measurable impact on the ground.

Newly appointed Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee, Komba Momoh, called for improved coordination and peer learning among member states. He noted progress since 2024 in areas such as maternal and child health, emergency response systems, and health workforce development, while acknowledging persistent disparities in implementation across countries.

WAHO Director General, Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, highlighted the financial realities facing the sector, revealing that the organisation provided approximately $9.3 million in direct support to member states in 2025.

He warned that declining external financing makes it necessary for countries to strengthen prioritisation and domestic resource mobilisation. He also described the Steering Committees as an important mechanism for improving governance, transparency, and visibility in the use of regional health funds.

While deliberations continue in conference rooms in Freetown, the broader challenges remain evident across the region, where citizens still face long distances to health facilities, shortages of medical personnel, and unequal access to essential services.

Delegates are expected to conclude the meeting with agreed actions aimed at improving coordination and ensuring that funding decisions translate into measurable improvements in healthcare delivery.

For Sierra Leone, hosting the meeting places the country at the centre of regional efforts to reform health financing and governance. However, it also underscores a broader reminder that behind policy discussions are patients in need, overstretched health workers, and communities awaiting stronger health systems.

Ultimately, stakeholders say the success of the meeting will be judged not by official communiqués, but by whether healthcare across West Africa becomes more accessible, reliable, and responsive.