The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced plans to reactivate the dormant Ghana Liver-Hepatitis Fund to help close funding gaps in the fight against viral hepatitis.
Speaking on behalf of the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Deputy Director of GHS, Caroline Amissah Reindof, said the move comes at a critical time when partner support is dwindling and new funding streams remain limited.
“I am delighted that the GHS has taken the initiative to reactivate the Ghana Liver-Hepatitis Fund. This will complement government resources to ensure seamless and integrated hepatitis services nationwide,” she said at the 2025 World Hepatitis Day commemoration in Accra.
She stressed the need to prioritise newborns and children, who are most vulnerable to hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B.
According to her, administering the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth is crucial to preventing mother-to-child transmission.
“Chronically infected individuals face a four-to-five-times higher risk of developing cancer than those who smoke daily. Yet, hepatitis is preventable, curable, and treatable, with treatment reducing cancer risk by over 80%,” she noted, urging Ghanaians to seek timely treatment.
Themed “Let’s Break It Down,” this year’s World Hepatitis Day highlighted the need to remove barriers to hepatitis services in line with Ghana’s universal health coverage goals by 2030.
Ms. Reindof further called for sustained public education to combat stigma and misinformation surrounding the disease.
Also present, Dr. Fiona Braka, WHO Country Representative, reaffirmed the WHO’s support for Ghana in expanding affordable diagnosis and treatment. “We urge all stakeholders, including CSOs and the government, to work together to mobilize resources to eliminate this epidemic,” she said.
Adding to this, Atsu Seake-Kwawu, Programmes Manager of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, assured Ghanaians that donor funding shortfalls would not derail progress.
He cited initiatives such as the Mahama Cares policy, which continues to support healthcare delivery.
Akosua Agyapomaa Antwi
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