Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disclosed that 107 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been recorded within the University of Ghana community, stressing that no infections have been reported beyond Accra.
The Minister gave this assurance during his appearance in Parliament on Tuesday, July 1, as he briefed the House on the recent resurgence of COVID-19 in parts of the country.
“There have been no deaths and no hospital admissions so far,” Mr. Akandoh told Parliament. He explained that the outbreak remains restricted, stating, “It has not spread widely to other parts of Accra or the rest of the country.”
The minister revealed that the cases emerged from 316 suspected infections reported at the University of Ghana and were verified using Ghana’s influenza surveillance network. The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research later confirmed the positive results.
According to Mr. Akandoh, “our surveillance system remains active and ready to detect and respond effectively,” should cases appear outside the university environment.
The infections, he added, are linked to a known strain—the Omicron sub-variant—detected through the country’s sentinel surveillance system, which operates across all 16 regions.
In response to the cluster of cases, authorities at the University of Ghana have taken proactive measures. The institution’s Health Services Directorate has reactivated its COVID-19 Response Protocols, which include mandatory face masking in enclosed or crowded settings, hand hygiene practices using soap or sanitizers, and screening and triaging procedures at health facilities.
As a further containment effort, management has suspended all social gatherings on campus, allowing only official academic and administrative activities to proceed.
Although the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has described the cases as mild, it has urged continued caution and adherence to safety measures. The government is also reinforcing healthcare capacity at Legon Hospital and the Student Clinic. Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and frontline staff training are being rolled out, with the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre on standby to manage any future severe cases.
Meanwhile, Professor Kofi Bonnie, Head of Biology at the Noguchi Memorial Institute, has highlighted a seasonal risk factor. In an interview with Joy News, he warned that “influenza-like illnesses surge during rainy days,” which could trigger a rise in COVID-19 cases if vigilance is not maintained.
COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, continues to pose health risks globally. It spreads primarily through close contact and can result in a range of symptoms—from fever and sore throat to shortness of breath and chest pain—typically developing five to six days after exposure.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) lifted its classification of COVID-19 as a public health emergency in May 2023, it emphasized that the disease remains a global health concern.
In Ghana, public health authorities have intensified vaccination efforts. In July 2024, the Ghana Health Service began a nationwide campaign, administering 500,000 vaccine doses to individuals aged 18 and above. Vaccines are now integrated into the country’s routine adult immunization programme and are widely available at health facilities and mobile outreach sites in communities, markets, workplaces, and places of worship.
Globally, the pandemic has left a profound impact. By April 30, 2023, over 13.3 billion vaccine doses had been administered worldwide. Confirmed cases exceeded 765 million, with nearly 7 million fatalities. Europe has borne the brunt of both infections and deaths, while Africa has recorded the lowest figures in both categories.
Despite ongoing vaccination campaigns, the GHS has raised concerns about gaps in coverage, warning that large portions of Ghana’s population remain only partially vaccinated or unvaccinated—conditions that could leave the country vulnerable to renewed outbreaks.
