Abuakwa South MP raises concerns over Ghana’s Ebola preparedness after Nigeria case

A Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South Constituency, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has called on the government to strengthen the country’s public health emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an Ebola virus disease case in Nigeria. In a statement issued on Monday, October 26, 2026, the MP warned that Ghana must not become complacent, despite having no confirmed Ebola case, according to the latest official Ghanaian update cited in the statement.

The MP urged the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to intensify disease surveillance, particularly at land borders, activate regional and district rapid response teams and assess the readiness of designated isolation and treatment facilities. The call follows Nigeria’s reported confirmation of an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola on October 20, 2026.

The statement said subsequent genomic analysis found the virus to be closely related to a strain identified in Kenya, although this did not establish direct transmission between the two countries. The MP said Ghana’s extensive travel links, commercial activities and population movements across West Africa made it important for the country to strengthen its defences against potential cross-border transmission.

While acknowledging the Ministry of Health’s announcement of intensified surveillance and preparedness measures, including enhanced monitoring at Kotoka International Airport, the MP said the government must demonstrate operational readiness across the health system. “The lessons of previous Ebola outbreaks demonstrate that early detection, effective surveillance and rapid response remain our strongest safeguards against a public health emergency,” the statement said.

Calls for funding and protection of health workers The MP also called for adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, diagnostic materials and infection prevention resources to support health facilities in responding to a possible outbreak. The statement emphasised the need to protect frontline healthcare workers through practical training, emergency simulation exercises, laboratory preparedness and clear referral protocols.

It further urged the government to release funds promptly to support preparedness measures rather than wait for a confirmed case to expose weaknesses in the country’s response system. The MP said public communication must be timely, transparent and evidence-based to educate Ghanaians on Ebola symptoms, preventive measures and appropriate reporting channels without creating unnecessary panic.

The statement also called for stronger collaboration with the World Health Organisation, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and neighbouring countries to improve information sharing and coordinate responses to potential outbreaks. MP questions government’s commitment to preparedness The MP expressed concern about what was described as insufficient publicly demonstrated progress in addressing issues raised in an earlier statement on March 27, 2026, regarding Ghana’s preparedness for public health emergencies.

The MP questioned whether the government was unwilling to invest in preventive measures or had failed to prioritise the necessary resources. The statement called on the Minister for Health to account to Parliament and the public for funds allocated, released and spent on emergency preparedness, as well as provide evidence of improvements made since March.

“Public health security must be measured by concrete action, not assurances alone,” the MP said. The MP urged the government to use developments in Nigeria as an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s readiness to manage a potential outbreak, warning against waiting until Ghana records its first case before identifying gaps in its emergency response system.

The statement concluded that strengthening preparedness, surveillance and response capacity was essential to protecting public health and preventing a potential emergency from escalating. Press Statement_EbolaDownload