The Government of Ghana has activated surveillance and isolation systems at major border entry points as part of efforts to prevent a possible outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, disclosed this during a working visit to the Elubo and Aflao border posts to assess Ghana’s preparedness and response mechanisms against the deadly disease.
The visit follows recent Ebola outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Central Africa, raising concerns about the potential spread of the virus across the region.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah, who is also a clinician and surgeon, said President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Health to ensure the country remains fully prepared to respond to any suspected Ebola cases.
“As a government, it is our duty to ensure that our country and citizens are safe, and that is exactly what we are doing by assessing our response mechanisms to this deadly disease,” she stated.
Screening and Isolation Measures in Place
During the tour, the Deputy Minister engaged officials from border security agencies, Port Health Services and local authorities to evaluate screening procedures, isolation facilities and coordination systems at the country’s entry points.
Officials at both border posts assured the Deputy Minister that screening, surveillance and isolation protocols are already operational and capable of detecting and managing suspected cases.
However, they highlighted several challenges, including inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), limited staffing and deteriorating infrastructure established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah assured stakeholders that the government would take swift action to address the identified gaps.
She revealed plans to establish modern and fully equipped border health facilities while increasing investments in logistics, personnel and essential medical supplies to strengthen Ghana’s frontline defence against infectious diseases.
“The government remains committed to ensuring robust surveillance, screening and response mechanisms are in place to protect the health and safety of Ghanaians,” she emphasized.
Strengthening Ghana’s Health Security
The Deputy Minister’s visit forms part of broader government efforts to reinforce disease surveillance and emergency response systems, particularly at points of entry where cross-border trade and movement increase the risk of disease transmission.
The exercise also sought to enhance collaboration among key institutions, including the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and regional health directorates.
According to Dr. Ayensu-Danquah, strengthening health security remains a priority under President Mahama’s administration, which has pledged renewed investments in primary healthcare, disease surveillance and frontline health infrastructure.
The government has also rolled out major interventions, including the Mahama Cares programme and the Free Primary Healthcare Policy, while continuing efforts to retool hospitals and retrain health workers to improve healthcare delivery and emergency response capacity nationwide.
