Ghana has announced the successful closure of its type 2 poliovirus outbreak in August 2026, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to eradicate polio.
In a press release commemorating World Polio Day 2026, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said the achievement was confirmed through rigorous Outbreak Response Assessments (OBRA), demonstrating the country’s surveillance, immunisation and rapid response capabilities.
This year’s World Polio Day is being observed under the theme “One Day, One Focus: Ending Polio for Good,” which highlights the importance of community engagement and vaccination in protecting children against the preventable disease.
The GHS said Ghana achieved the milestone through collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, GAVI, Rotary International and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Ghana was among five African countries that collectively closed their type 2 poliovirus outbreaks in August 2026.
The other countries named were Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Immunisation Coverage Above 95%
According to the statement, Ghana’s progress reflects years of investment in routine immunisation, supplementary vaccination campaigns, outbreak response and community mobilisation.
The country has maintained immunisation coverage above 95% since introducing the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in 2018 and adding a second dose in 2024, the statement said.
These measures have helped protect children against paralysis caused by polioviruses and contributed to the absence of endemic polio cases in Ghana.
However, the health authorities stressed that continued vigilance remains necessary to achieve global eradication, emphasising the importance of active surveillance and sustained collaboration with partners.
The statement noted that the global nature of the disease means that the presence of polio in any country remains a concern for all countries.
As part of the World Polio Day commemoration, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service called on Ghanaians to ensure that every eligible child receives the required polio vaccinations.
The authorities warned that polio can be deadly and cause lifelong paralysis, although it is preventable through vaccination.
They urged communities to support immunisation programmes and maintain awareness of the importance of protecting children against the disease.
The statement was signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, who reaffirmed the institutions’ commitment to maintaining a polio-free Ghana and safeguarding the health of future generations.
The authorities called for collective action to sustain the country’s progress and contribute to the global effort to end polio for good.
