Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has officially received the credentials of Ghana's new Country Director for the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Fiona Braka.

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During their engagement, the sector minister assured Dr Braka of Ghana's unwavering support while expressing confidence in her capacity to carry out her mandate efficiently.

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"Ghana shall remain unflinchingly committed to multilateralism and will work with the WHO to achieve universal health coverage, health-related SDGs and the President’s vision for Mahama Cares and improved health outcomes," Mr Ablakwa wrote in a post on Facebook.

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Dr Braka takes over from Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, an infectious disease physician with specialization in clinical virology, who has worked with WHO in various capacities for the past 18 years.

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Dr. Kasolo was a Director in the office of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, responsible for advising the Regional Director on policy and strategic issues pertaining to the work of WHO.  He also served as Director for Ebola Preparedness with the United Nations Mission on Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER) in Accra in 2014.

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Per her new role, she is mandated to lead WHO Ghana’s technical and operational work, collaborate with the Ministry of Health, key stakeholders, and partners to strengthen health systems, improve health outcomes, and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Profile of Dr Braka

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Dr Braka is seasoned public health expert from Uganda, with more than two decades of extensive experience in disease prevention and control, public health emergency management, and strategic leadership.

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Dr Braka held several senior positions within WHO across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Uganda. She spearheaded initiatives to advance primary health care and public health security, while leading diverse teams in complex settings.

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She served as Coordinator of Emergency Response Operations at WHO’s Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, where she directed WHO’s response to major disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises across 47 countries and oversaw efforts to bolster national capacities for health emergency preparedness and response.

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Dr Braka played a pivotal role in the eradication of wild poliovirus in Nigeria, contributing to the African region’s certification as wild polio-free in 2020.

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As an immunization team lead in various countries, she supported the expansion of national vaccination programmes, helping to bring essential health services closer to underserved communities.

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Dr Braka has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. She holds a Medical Degree from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States of America.

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Additional information from WHO.

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