University of Ghana COVID-19 Outbreak: We Are Not Back to 2020 – Health Minister assures Ghanaians

Minister for Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured Ghanaians that the recent outbreak of COVID-19 on the University of Ghana campus is under control, urging the public not to panic.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Akandoh revealed that 316 suspected cases and 107 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant had been recorded on campus. However, there have been no hospitalisations or deaths.

“This is not a new virus, and we are not back in 2020,” the Minister told lawmakers. “This Omicron variant spreads fast, but it is mostly mild. We know how to manage it, and our surveillance system is fully active and ready to respond.”

The outbreak, traced through Ghana’s influenza surveillance system and confirmed by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, has so far remained contained within the university community. The Minister disclosed that investigations linked the surge to recent Hall Week celebrations, during which many attendees failed to observe COVID-19 safety protocols.

In response, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the university’s Health Directorate, the School of Public Health, and Noguchi to roll out sensitisation campaigns. Measures include intensified campus-wide education using posters, student leaders, and campus radio to promote adherence to protocols.

Mr Akandoh reaffirmed government’s support, citing the provision of vaccines, test kits, PPEs, and treatment supplies to help manage the outbreak. He added that the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre remains on standby should the situation escalate.

MPOX

The Health Minister also provided an update on MPOX, confirming 133 cases across the Western, Greater Accra, and Western North regions as of June 29. No deaths or hospitalisations have been recorded, and most patients have recovered, with only a few active cases remaining.

Contributing to the debate, Essikado-Ketan MP, Hon. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, called for renewed public education on mask usage and hand hygiene, especially in schools and universities.

Despite the rise in infections, COVID-19 is no longer considered a global emergency, the Minister reminded Parliament. He reiterated government’s preparedness to manage future outbreaks swiftly, emphasising that the nation’s disease surveillance system remains robust and alert.