Ghana Battles Cholera Outbreak: 6,000 Cases, 49 Deaths

Ghana Records Over 6,000 Cholera Cases with 49 Fatalities

Ghana Battles Meningitis Outbreak: Over 120 Cases and 16 Deaths Reported — Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

As of February 13, 2025, there have been 6,145 reported cases, 719 confirmed infections, and 49 fatalities from Ghana’s severe cholera outbreak. These concerning figures were presented by the nation’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, during a speech to Parliament on Tuesday, February 18.

Since its initial appearance in the Greater Accra Region’s Ada West district in October 2024, the outbreak has expanded to several other areas, including Central, Western, Ashanti, and Eastern. With 133 new cases reported in the last week alone, the Central Region has been most hit, especially in Agona West and Effutu. Two people died and 23 people were admitted to the hospital as a result of these occurrences.

Minister Akandoh reported a slow decrease in new cases despite the extensive outbreak, with the Central Region currently accounting for the majority of active cases. There were 28 current cases in the area as of February 16: four in Agona West, six in Cape Coast, and 18 in Effutu.

To combat the crisis, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has implemented several public health interventions, including:

Enhanced surveillance and case tracking to quickly identify and isolate new infections.
Strengthening laboratory capacity to expedite cholera case confirmations.
Environmental health assessments in affected areas to address poor sanitation and unsafe water sources.
Nationwide public awareness campaigns educating communities on cholera prevention, hygiene, and food safety.
Specialized cholera treatment centers, where medical personnel have received intensive training in infection control and case management.

In high-risk areas, the government has also started an oral cholera immunization campaign. 596,205 persons, or 92.9% of the target population, have been reached by the campaign thus far in the Central and Western Regions.

Ghana continues to face major issues, such as inadequate hygiene habits, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water, despite continuous investments. A multisectoral strategy is necessary to fully contain cholera epidemics, Minister Akandoh underlined.

“In the long term, Ghana must prioritize improvements in sanitation, water safety, and personal hygiene to prevent cholera from recurring,” he stated.

The government remains committed to mitigating the crisis and preventing further fatalities.