By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reassured the public that the risk of catching Ebola remains low in the country.
According to the Minister, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains the disease as a public health emergency of international concern, Ghana’s alert protocols meant to insulate the country from the virus is adequate to keep people safe.
“It is important to stress that, presently the risk of Ebola is low in Ghana. I would like to use this opportunity to assure everybody that, the government is taking all the necessary measures to protect us all.”
The minister said this in a public address on Thursday, May 21, 2026, stressing that;
“It is important to note that, no cases have been recorded in West Africa, including our dear country Ghana. However, it is said, prevention is always better than cure.”
He went on to outline frequent hand washing or general hand hygiene as one of the key disease prevention measures people must be diligent about as individual, especially during mass gatherings.
The statement follows two recent public notices issued by the ministry in response to the global alert.
Ebola is a viral disease spread through direct contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, and contaminated surfaces or materials. The minister therefore urged the public to watch out for symptoms and seek medical attention immediately.
“People experiencing symptoms such as sudden fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding should immediately report to the nearest health facility.”
The Minister added, “We should wash our hands frequently with soap under running water, or use hand sanitisers. Two, during mass gatherings, please also practise good hand hygiene, and event organisers should provide hand washing stations and hand sanitisers.
The WHO declared Ebola a public health emergency of international concern after a recent uptick in cases in parts of Central and East Africa.
