By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Ministry of Health Ghana has joined the global community to mark World Health Day 2026 with a strong call for science-driven decision-making and enhanced collaboration across sectors to improve health outcomes.
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, highlighted that this year’s theme, “Together for Health: Stand with Science,” reflects Ghana’s commitment to leveraging data, research and partnerships in addressing critical health challenges.
The Ministry outlined key interventions being implemented, including real-time disease surveillance systems, strengthened laboratory capacity and targeted responses to both infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well as antimicrobial resistance.
It also underscored Ghana’s adoption of the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health systems to effectively manage public health threats such as zoonotic diseases, while promoting improved nutrition, food safety and environmental health policies.
Country Representative of the World Health Organization, Fiona Braka, noted that Ghana’s progress in areas such as immunisation and outbreak response has largely been driven by science and collective action.
She, however, cautioned that emerging health threats, climate-related risks and existing gaps within the health system require sustained investment in research, innovation and equitable access to healthcare.
Dr. Braka called for renewed commitment and united action to build a more resilient health system and secure better health outcomes for all Ghanaians.
