Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that the country is urgently working to secure Mpox vaccines to curb the rising outbreak, which has so far led to one death and infected over 300 people.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to receive Mpox response kits from the World Health Organization (WHO), Akandoh confirmed that the government has formally submitted a vaccine request to the WHO and is exploring additional sources to ensure prompt delivery.
“We have put in our request. What we need to do is to put in the request. And once we put in the request, WHO will then take you through the processes. And for your information, I think they have approved it and they are almost done for the delivery. That is what we are putting to.”
“But I can also assure you that we are not looking at one direction. Once we are going through WHO, we are also going through other means. So whichever comes first, bingo, we are in good business,” he stated.
The recent surge in cases prompted the Ministry to scale up its national response, including intensified contact tracing efforts. So far, over 15,000 contacts have been traced.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) confirmed 20 new infections on August 3, bringing total confirmed cases to 302 as of July 30, 2025.
The country recorded its first Mpox-related fatality—a 45-year-old man in Greater Accra who died at home after refusing hospital care.
According to Dr. Joseph Oliver-Commey, Mpox Case Management Lead, the patient had underlying health issues that worsened his condition.
Despite rising infections and concerns of further spread, Akandoh expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to contain the virus, praising the efforts of frontline health workers and rapid response teams at the national, regional, and district levels.
He also cautioned the public to remain vigilant, particularly with regard to sexual health practices, and reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring vaccines become a key tool in the ongoing response.
