The Minister for Health has confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Ghana but assured the state that the situation is under control, with no hospitalisations or deaths reported.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, 1st July 2025, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh revealed that the outbreak has been traced to the highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant. It was detected early through the influenza surveillance system and confirmed by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
“This is not a new virus, and we are not back to 2020. We’ve beaten back bigger waves before, and we can do it again—with calm, cooperation, and good public health practices,” the Minister told the House.
As of July 1, a total of 316 suspected cases were recorded within the university community. Out of these, 107 cases have been confirmed as COVID-19. All affected individuals are recovering well.
“There are no hospitalisations and no deaths. So far, the outbreak is limited to the university community and has not spread widely to other parts of Accra or the rest of the country,” the Minister stated.
A probe by health officials linked the outbreak to recent Hall Week celebrations at the university, which drew large crowds and showed low compliance with COVID-19 safety measures.
The Minister observed that crowd gatherings without masks or distancing significantly increased transmission and lamented the noticeable drop in adherence to basic safety protocols and some gaps in contact tracing.
Following the detection of the cases, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and university authorities, took immediate action including: Deployment of a national response team; Suspension of Hall Week activities; Launch of a campus-wide awareness campaign; Supply of PPEs and support to Legon Hospital; and Mapping and enhanced testing of affected areas. Meanwhile, the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre has also been activated in case severe cases arise.
The Minister clarified that COVID-19 vaccination is no longer part of routine immunization but is still a key tool in preventing severe illness and indicated plans to secure additional vaccine doses to protect vulnerable groups.
“We are sourcing vaccines in anticipation of a possible surge, especially to protect the aged and those with chronic illnesses,” he stated.
“For those who contract the virus, treatment is available. Paxlovid is effective for mild to moderate cases among high-risk patients,” he noted, adding that most people recover at home, with hospitals ready to manage more severe symptoms.
The Minister warned of a rise in other infectious diseases during the rainy season, including seasonal flu and cholera. Additionally, 133 cases of MPOX have been reported across three regions—Greater Accra, Western, and Western North—with no deaths or current hospital admissions.
According to him, all affected MPOX patients, except recent cases, have fully recovered.
Hon. Akandoh urged the public to follow basic hygiene and safety measures, which remain effective against multiple illnesses.
“Wash your hands regularly, wear a mask in crowded places, and stay home when unwell. Let us each do our part to keep our communities safe,” he advised.
