Ghana’s Health Minister, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has underscored the need for continuous advancements in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and emergency response to enhance the country’s health security.

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Speaking at the opening of a week-long Joint External Evaluation (JEE) assessment, he acknowledged Ghana’s efforts in combating past outbreaks such as COVID-19, Lassa Fever, and Marburg virus, while emphasizing the necessity of strengthening public health systems.

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He also highlighted the crucial role of multi-sectoral collaboration and commended development partners, particularly the World Health Organization (WHO), for their support in improving health preparedness.

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The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the significance of the JEE in assessing Ghana’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.

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He noted that Ghana had made notable progress in surveillance, risk communication, and laboratory capacity, reflected in an increase in the country’s SPAR score from 47% in 2018 to 56% in 2023, surpassing the African regional average.

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Despite these improvements, he acknowledged persistent challenges in financing, human resources, and emergency response to chemical and radiation events, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to bolster Ghana’s public health preparedness.

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The JEE, conducted every five years, serves as a multi-sectoral evaluation of a country’s health security capacities, identifying strengths and areas requiring further development. The assessment aims to guide national strategies in building a more resilient public health system capable of effectively responding to emerging threats.

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