The Ministry of Health has intensified border surveillance as part of enhanced measures aimed at preventing the disease from entering and spreading in Ghana.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, the Ministry said that, under the new arrangements, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will contact travellers after their arrival at the airports to ensure they comply with the required health monitoring protocols.

Travellers will be required to report any symptoms associated with the disease to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) during the 21-day monitoring period.

Part of the statement said, “Passengers arriving from countries with ongoing transmission will be monitored for up to 21 days. The Ghana Health Service will contact them for follow-up, and they must keep reachable contact details and report any symptoms immediately to the designated contact.

Meanwhile, Ghana is considering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict Ebola and other health threats.

Speaking to the media on Monday, October 26, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, indicated that the approach could help authorities respond early rather than wait for an outbreak to become widespread.

“From there, I move into a meeting where we are talking about technology and how to even use AI to help predict what will happen. But now, let me say that when it comes to Ebola, we are in the face of preparedness,” he noted.

He further noted that Ghana was taking precautionary measures against a potential Ebola outbreak, stressing that no outbreak had been reported in the country.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was officially declared on May 15, 2026, in Ituri province. By May 17, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) had already classified it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to rapid spread and cross-border cases in Uganda.

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe viral illness spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials and surfaces. Symptoms may include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and, in severe cases, bleeding.

Meanwhile, the public has been advised to maintain good hygiene practices to help prevent an outbreak in Ghana.

“Wash hands regularly with soap under running water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. - Avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of sick persons. Avoid handling dead bodies without appropriate protection.

Avoid handling or eating sick or dead wild animals and ensure that all meat is properly handled and thoroughly cooked before consumption. Report suspected symptoms immediately to the nearest health facility,” parts of the statement emphasised.

In a separate development, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it has put measures in place to prevent Hantavirus from entering the country and to ensure a swift response if any cases occur.The assurance follows reports of Hantavirus infections on a cruise ship currently docked in Cape Verde.

The cruise ship reportedly carried crew members primarily from the Philippines, with passengers from the United States, Europe, South America, Australia, and parts of Asia.

In a press statement, the GHS noted that eight suspected cases, five confirmed infections, and three deaths have been recorded on the vessel as of May 7.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have urged calm worldwide, stating that the risk assessment remains low.

Although the virus is yet to be detected in Ghana, the GHS has noted that its Port Health Division and other public health structures have been activated to reduce the risk of importation as part of its precautionary measures.

Enhanced surveillance has been deployed at all ports of entry, including airports and seaports. Health facilities nationwide, on the other hand, have been directed by the Service to intensify monitoring and reporting of unusual respiratory illnesses.

The public has also been advised to maintain proper hygiene, keep their surroundings clean, store food safely, dispose of waste properly, and avoid contact with rodents and their droppings.

In a separate development, the government’s flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme was launched on Wednesday, April 15, by President John Dramani Mahama at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

The Free Primary Healthcare Policy is Ghana’s bold initiative to ensure that every resident, especially vulnerable populations, can access essential health services without paying out-of-pocket at the point of care.

The government is poised to officially roll out the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) initiative on September 1, 2025. This forms part of the key steps adopted towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

Over 24,534 pieces of medical equipment have been received by the government ahead of its Free Primary Healthcare policy rollout. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated, “In preparation for implementation, we have procured and are ready to deploy 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment across the country. This is intended to ensure our facilities and health workers are equipped and ready.”

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed over GH¢392 million in vetted claims to healthcare providers across Ghana between December 2025 and January 2026.

The payments cover services provided under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). According to the Finance Directorate of the NHIA, the funds were released following an extensive vetting and approval process of claims submitted by health facilities. In December 2025, the Authority paid GH¢301,658,338.13, while in January 2026, healthcare providers received GH¢90,373,513.13.

The NHIA in early July 205 disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country. The disbursement became possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe.The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion.

Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

One of the ways the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) seeks to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure equal access to healthcare, and reduce illegal fees is by proposing a 120 per cent increase in service tariffs, pending approval from its Board and the Minister of Health.

This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, during an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 26. According to Dr. Bampoe, the proposed tariff increase, if approved, would help reduce the extra charges patients pay at hospitals for medical care and services.

He explained that the proposed increase was planned in consultation with a group of independent experts mandated to review tariffs under Sections 33 and 34 of the National Health Insurance Act, which require annual revisions of both medicines and service tariffs.

“Regarding the 120% tariff increase: this is proposed after comprehensive work by a group of experts. The law requires an annual review of service and medicine tariffs (Sections 33 and 34). Although the review was delayed, the proposal is now ready and will go to our board and the Minister of Health for approval. Once approved, it will be implemented. This is partly to address the problem of illegal fees at hospitals, ensuring health providers are paid realistic tariffs so patients no longer have to pay out-of-pocket,” he said.

As the “cash manager” of Ghana’s health insurance system, Dr. Bampoe explained that the NHIA is mandated to collect funds, set tariffs, and pay hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies for services provided to insured patients.

However, he noted that the Authority plans to move beyond this traditional role and become more of a “strategic health purchasing provider.”