Stakeholders Convene over Ghana’s Preparedness Against Ebola

Key stakeholders in Ghana’s aviation, health, security, and border management sectors have convened at the Accra International Airport to review and strengthen measures aimed at preventing the importation and spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) through the country’s points of entry.

The meeting, organized by the Ghana Health Service, focused on discussing and finalizing travel guidance for arriving passengers and enhancing public health measures being implemented at the airport in response to the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) declared for Ebola Virus Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus.

The engagement also sought to clarify stakeholder roles and responsibilities and strengthen inter-agency coordination to ensure travellers arriving in Ghana are effectively screened and managed in accordance with established public health protocols.

Participants included representatives from the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division, National Security, National Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Commission, Veterinary Services Directorate, Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, National Ambulance Service, Airport Medical Clinic, airline operators, aviation security agencies, ground handling companies, and other stakeholders operating within the airport environment.

Delivering a presentation on the current Ebola situation, the Deputy Director for Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Dennis Laryea, noted that Ghana falls within the World Health Organization’s priority classification for countries requiring heightened preparedness due to the ongoing outbreak in parts of Africa.

He explained that the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda currently fall within Priority 1A as the epicentres of the outbreak, with the Democratic Republic of Congo recording 263 confirmed cases while Uganda has reported nine deaths.

Although Ghana has not recorded any case of Ebola and has never experienced an outbreak of the disease, Dr. Laryea stressed that the country’s location within the region necessitates a high level of vigilance and preparedness.

He further indicated that there is currently no licensed vaccine for the Ebola strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak, making surveillance, early detection, and strict infection prevention and control measures critical components of preparedness efforts.

According to Dr. Laryea, while the risk of transmission to Ghana remains low, there is a significant regional risk due to international travel and population movement across borders.

He emphasized that preparedness measures are therefore essential to ensure the country can rapidly detect, assess, and respond to any suspected case.

The meeting reviewed several public health interventions being implemented at the airport in line with World Health Organization guidelines.

These include the provision of travel advice to passengers, deployment of health declaration forms, temperature screening, symptom and risk assessment, secondary screening procedures, and the use of Advance Passenger Information systems to analyze travellers’ itineraries before arrival.

Under the enhanced screening process, arriving travellers will be required to complete health declaration forms.

Stakeholders also discussed measures to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) practices throughout Terminal 3 and other airport facilities.

Recommendations included routine cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, ensuring the availability and proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), displaying public health advisories and educational materials at strategic locations, and monitoring adherence to IPC protocols by airport staff and concessionaires.

The Ghana Airports Company Limited reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting national preparedness efforts and announced plans to install 60 hand sanitizing stations and 15 wall-mounted hand sanitizer units across the airport as part of preventive measures.

They also assured stakeholders of GACL’s readiness to support tabletop and functional simulation exercises aimed at testing the airport’s preparedness and ensuring that all frontline personnel understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a suspected Ebola case.

The meeting forms part of Ghana’s broader commitment under the International Health Regulations (2005) to strengthen public health measures at points of entry while facilitating safe international travel and trade.

Ghana last recorded an Ebola preparedness activation during the West African outbreak period in 2012, but has never recorded a confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease.

Also present at the meeting were senior officials from the Ghana Health Service, including Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health; Dr. Mabel Kissiwa Asafo, Director of Health Promotion; Dr. Oliver Commey, Director of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC); Dr. Alphonsus Chantiwuni Nindow, Deputy Director of Port Health; and Dr. Lawrence Lartey, Head of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC).

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