In a press release dated January 14, 2026, the Ministry reminded the public that meningitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection caused by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The disease can spread quickly, particularly in crowded living conditions, and may lead to severe complications or death if not treated early.

Common symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, and seizures. In infants, warning signs may include a bulging fontanelle, persistent crying, and refusal to feed.

The Ministry noted that children under five, adolescents, young adults, the elderly, people living in overcrowded spaces, and individuals with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

To prevent infection, the public is advised to avoid crowded and poorly ventilated areas, practice good respiratory and personal hygiene, wash hands regularly, stay hydrated, and ensure routine immunisations are up to date.

Anyone experiencing symptoms or suspecting a case of meningitis is urged to report immediately to the nearest health facility. Early detection and treatment are critical to saving lives.

The statement, signed by Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, assured the public that surveillance systems have been strengthened and health facilities are on high alert to respond swiftly to suspected cases.

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He called for intensified awareness creation among residents to ensure that they are abreast with the signs, symptoms and precautionary measures to help in the prevention of the spread of the disease and early detection for timely treatment.

Professor Akoriyea made the call during an engagement with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga as part of a working visit to the region since his assumption into office earlier this year.

In the early part of 2025, the country recorded its meningitis cases in the Upper West Region, and as of February, 16 persons had lost their lives to the disease out of the total 173 suspected cases.

Additionally, in the Upper East Region, two persons out of 31 suspected meningitis cases died, although the region has not recorded a meningitis outbreak.

The Director General noted that although the meningitis situation was under control, the situation was not over, and it was imperative for stakeholders in the health sector, especially in the two regions (Upper West Region and Upper East Region), to be cautious and vigilant to prevent its spread.

He expressed concern over people’s failure to visit the health facilities for treatment when experiencing the signs and symptoms but assured the public that GHS had procured enough vaccines to contain the situation.

Professor Akoriyea stressed the need for robust surveillance at the country’s borders and entry points, adding that the diseases could infiltrate into the country from the Sahelian countries due to proximity.

The Director General decried the shortage of health workers in the Upper East Region, attributing it to staff refusing postings to the area due to insecurity, particularly in conflict-prone areas like Bawku.

“Without peace, health indicators will not improve,” he stated, emphasising that safety concerns deter professionals from working in the region.

He also criticised interference in staff transfers by influential figures, calling for support to ensure equitable distribution of health workers.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, Al-Hassan Ibrahim Abdul-Kadir, the Acting Regional Coordinating Director, acknowledged the concerns raised by the Director General, pledging to address them with the Regional Minister.

He noted that there are ongoing efforts and collaboration with the Ghana Medical Association to enhance security for health workers in the Region.

He particularly commended the effort of the Senior House Master in rushing the students who tested positive for meningitis.

He said the early intervention by the Senior House Master, Felix Sangyor, ensured that the student was attended to early by health professionals and is currently responding to treatment.

“Such sense of urgency should be the approach to all suspected cases of meningitis to reduce the fatality rate,” the Minister stated.

Visit, cases

The issue came to light when Mr Akandoh, together with the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, visited the Nadowli District Hospital last Wednesday where the National Rapid Response Team has been training the health workers on meningitis case management.

The visit also allowed the team to appreciate the challenges facing the health workers and how the ministry could assist them.

It was during the visit that the team met the student from Queen of Peace Secondary School who was on admission at the district hospital and was briefed about the incident.

The Nadowli District and the Wa Municipality have recorded the highest suspected cases of meningitis in the Upper West Region this year, with Nadowli recording 26 suspected cases with the Wa Municipality recording 22 cases.

The district also leads in fatality with five deaths out of seven confirmed cases, while Wa Municipal has recorded one death out of three confirmed cases.

As part of the intervention, Mr. Akandoh presented boxes of antibiotics to the Nadowli District Hospital for the treatment of CSM cases.

Brief

Briefing the team, Mr Sangyor said he was out of the school when he received a call that one of the students was not feeling well and needed medical attention.

He said the student was not feeling well some days earlier and was asked by his colleagues to visit the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound but he did not go.

The senior housemaster said the initial plan was to carry the student on his motorbike to the district hospital, “But when I came and saw his condition, I had to hire a rickshaw to send him to the hospital.

“I thought we had lost him because his condition was so precarious. We just thank God for sparing his life,” he said.

While thanking and commending Mr. Sangyor for his proactiveness, he urged the school authorities to be innovative and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of exposure to the disease.

He said it should be possible to allow the students to sleep in the open particularly during this dry season to allow for ventilation in the dormitories.

“You know your situation best and if you need any advice, consult the medical doctors and the district directors of health and education, they will support you to provide a conducive environment for the students to study,” he said.

No closure

Although Nadowli is one of the districts with the highest reported suspected cases of meningitis, Mr Akandoh said the situation was not at that level where schools would be asked to close down.

He said the situation was still manageable and that people only needed to take precautionary measures and report early to health facilities for testing and treatment.

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According to a post shared by the Ghana Health Service on February 12, 2025, the visit is part of a broader effort to strengthen the region’s response to the outbreak.

The officials engaged with key local figures, including the Regional Minister and the Wa Naa, Seidu Fuseini Pelpuo IV.

Their discussions focused on strategies to manage the outbreak and better prepare for future health challenges.

The Minister and Director-General also visited the Nadowli Kaleo District to meet the District Coordinating Director.

They assessed the situation on the ground and visited the district hospital, where meningitis cases are being treated.

During the visit, they interacted with healthcare workers and delivered vital medicines to support the management of the outbreak.

Akandoh emphasised the importance of early detection and treatment in tackling the disease.

He urged the community to avoid crowded areas and seek medical care as soon as symptoms appear.

“It is better to have more people turning up early for testing and seeking care than waiting until it’s too late,” he said.

In response, the Wa Naa pledged his full support for the government’s efforts.

He commended the swift response from the Health Minister and Director-General and assured them that traditional leaders would work closely with health authorities to control the outbreak.

“We stand with you in this fight and will ensure our communities take the necessary steps to help control the spread,” the Wa Naa said.

The Minister was accompanied by his Technical Advisor, Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams.

The Ghana Health Service stated that this visit would allow officials to assess the effectiveness of current response efforts and reinforce strategies to control the meningitis outbreak.

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The cases have been reported across six of the region’s 11 districts, with the Nadowli/Kaleo District and Nandom Municipality bearing the highest toll. Of the suspected cases, seven have been confirmed.

Cerebrospinal meningitis, a deadly disease common in Ghana’s meningitis belt, typically peaks between October and March, affecting the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern regions. The disease can claim multiple lives during its active period.

Dr. Danquah, speaking to Accra-based Channel One News, urged residents to take preventive measures, such as staying in well-ventilated spaces, avoiding overcrowded areas, and seeking prompt medical care if symptoms like headaches, fever, and neck pain arise.

He emphasized that early treatment is key to reducing fatalities.

While the specific strain of meningitis causing the cases is yet to be identified, Dr. Danquah noted that a mass vaccination campaign is not being considered, as the situation does not meet the criteria for an outbreak.

He reassured the public that the region’s health authorities are equipped to manage the situation.

Some residents expressed surprise at the reports, as meningitis cases are more common during the hotter months beginning in March.

They called on the Ghana Health Service to increase public awareness campaigns to educate the population on prevention and early detection of the disease.

Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to remain vigilant and adhere to preventive guidelines.

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In sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the extended meningitis belt from Senegal to Ethiopia, this disease has historically posed a significant threat. Prior to 2010, Group A meningococcus was responsible for 80–85% of cases in this region, with epidemics occurring every 7–14 years (WHO, n.d.).

Ghana is among the globally identified countries within the meningitis belt and has faced persistent meningitis challenges.

The Northern region of Ghana, in particular, continues to report high disease prevalence, exacerbated by extreme heat and climate variability during the dry season. Although recent outbreaks have been less frequent, the long-term impact includes high rates of post-meningitis disability. Those affected or recovering from meningitis require ongoing care and support.

Ghana continues to strengthen its health systems and has made significant progress in addressing meningitis, including implementing a mass preventive immunization campaign targeting Group A meningococcus in 2012, which has successfully reduced the incidence of this strain (MoH, n.d.).

However, since the Group A meningococcus outbreak, additional outbreaks have occurred involving different bacterial strains, including N. meningitidis and S. pneumoniae, all of which are vaccine-preventable (CDC, 2017). This highlights that disinformation and misinformation about vaccination remain significant challenges.

It is crucial for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and government counterparts to collaborate in addressing these issues by ensuring effective policy implementation, responsiveness, and adequate budgetary support.

The Defeating Meningitis Road Map 2030 is a WHO initiative approved by member countries during the 73^rd session of the World Health Assembly in November 2020, under resolution WHA73.9. This Road Map outlines five interconnected themes that should be applied in Ghana to address its meningitis challenges (WHO, 2021).:

• Prevention and epidemic control focused on developing new, affordable vaccines, achieving high immunization coverage, and improving prevention strategies and epidemic response.
• Diagnosis and treatment emphasizing the need for rapid testing of meningitis and optimal management of cases.
• Disease surveillance aiming to enhance surveillance systems to guide meningitis prevention and control efforts.
• Care and support addressing the importance of early recognition, improved access to care, and post-meningitis support for those affected, their families and caregivers.
• Advocacy and engagement seeking to ensure high awareness of meningitis, integrate it into national plans, and improve access to prevention, care, and aftercare services.

It is incumbent upon countries to ensure that the objectives are incorporated into national health policies and other mainstream programs to achieve their full attainment. The success of these resolutions and their objectives also requires the collaboration of both local and international organizations.

In this regard, Concern Health Education Project, as a member of the global network the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO), is encouraging countries to assess their progress towards the WHO Defeating Meningitis Road Map 2030 and to recommit to its goals and ideals.

Today on August 20th, we, as CSOs and partners, urge policy makers, decision makers, and the government to adhere to the objectives outlined in the Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030. We invite everyone to join us for World Meningitis Day on October 5th, 2024, as we declare this call to action and launch a series of activities to mark the day.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Meningococcal disease outbreak in the United States, 2016. MMWR Weekly, 66(30). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6630a2.htm

Ministry of Health Ghana. (n.d.). Press statement: Meningitis situation in Ghana by Dr. Franklin Asare-Bekoe. Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.gh/press-statement-meningitis-situation-in-ghana-dr-franklin-asare-bekoe/

World Health Organization. (2021). Defeating meningitis by 2030: A Global Road Map. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/initiatives/defeating-meningitis-by-2030

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Meningococcal meningitis. Retrieved from https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/meningococcal-meningitis

About Concern Health Education Project

Concern Health Education Project (CHEP) is a legally registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Ghana with the objective of Promoting and Educating the population in the area of Health using Advocacy through Volunteer-related programs. CHEP engages in vaccine-preventable diseases promotions and prevention campaigns including meningitis.

The NGO again engages through Human Rights using right-based Advocacy. We promote Environmental Rights and Climate Change Issues and its linkages to health in participatory community action approaches and informal learning to provide the cutting edge to problem solving. Find out more on our website https://concernhealthepgha.wixsite.com/my-site

and on  social  media – https://www.facebook.com/ConcernHealthEducationProject

About the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations

The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) is a worldwide network of people and groups who are driven by a shared purpose to defeat meningitis. By coming together to share their diverse experience and expertise, they are a formidable global force against this life-threatening condition.

CoMO is the member network of Meningitis Research Foundation, an international health charity headquartered in the UK, driven by a passionate mission to prevent the devastating impact of meningitis. Founded by individuals whose lives were profoundly affected by meningitis, we are dedicated to enabling positive change by uniting people and knowledge to save lives.

Source: Myjoyonline

Young Kasoum had been diagnosed with Meningitis, leading to the partial loss of her sight at the Koforidua Government Hospital in the Eastern Region.

On Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, it was revealed that health workers had halted treatment for the past four days over GHS 1, 800.00 arrears which her mother, Regina Sefa could not pay, pending a referral to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Information gathered suggested that her medical bill was initially funded by her teacher, Lord Owiredu.

However, he exhausted all his money and could no longer finance the bills, a situation that forced him to reach out for support.

Based on this backdrop, Dwaso Nsem host, Chief Jerry Forson (CJ) travelled to Koforidua on Tuesday during which the Minister, who is also the Ofoase-Ayirebi Member of Parliament, offered to settle the bills.

“A dose of the drug is GHS 100 and she was to take two daily which will cost GHS 200 which her mother who sells firewood could not afford.

“Though they had the Health Insurance card, the doctors told me it could not cover for her treatment,” CJ reported.

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With regards to her referral, it has temporarily been put on hold as checks at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital indicated there was no bed available, hence doctors in Koforidua agreed to monitor her in the meantime.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah has also made available funds to cater for her treatment within a week and also for a required computerised tomography scan.

He has also pledged to cater for all other expenses that will be incurred if the transfer to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital becomes necessary.

Watch the video attached:

The tally is an increase by 42 from the previous 273 reported on April 15.

The number of fatalities have also increased from 43 to 45.

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye who led a team of health experts to region made the announcement on JoyNews’ ‘Beyond the Lockdown’ on Sunday.

He added, however, that there are only five active cases and four are in stable condition.

He dispelled reports that the CSM has been ignored due to the attention on Covid-19 pandemic; he said the string being dealt with is also novel and is receiving the needed attention.

“The type we were dealing with is not known to cause outbreaks,” he said.

Upper West Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service Osei Kuffour Afreh told JoyNews in April that the prevalent cases of meningitis are as a result of unavailable vaccines to tackle the disease.

Dr. Afreh stated there are no globally approved injections hence the current vaccines that were used in the past are no match for this breed of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM).

“We are dealing with a subtype X for which there are no vaccines in the world that have been certified by the World Health Organisation,” he said.

Confirming the statistics to Joy News, Upper West Regional Health Director, Dr Osei Kuffour Afreh, explained 137 cases have been recorded so far with 18 deaths.

The deaths, he revealed, did not occur within the same period but over a span of weeks and also recorded from different districts

He pegged environmental conditions and lack of awareness in the region as major concerns that expose the residents to the deadly disease.

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“Looking at environmental conditions around this time of the year, it is very dry and dusty; yesterday’s temperature was around 45 degrees which makes them prone to the disease.

“Some of the victims were not aware of the illness and reported late, others were terminally ill before visiting the hospital. We tried our best for some patients but unfortunately we could not save them because the situation was out of control,” he said.

To Dr Afreh, though the statistics are relatively lower than last year’s, they are still areas of concern as treatment plans have been advanced which he believes should have reduced the numbers drastically.

Dr Afreh, who hinted Meningitis is more dangerous and violent than Coronavirus, was concerned meningitis cases could rise since the whole country has lost its focus and singing the tunes of the latter.