Abuakwa South MP calls for strengthened border surveillance amid Ebola concerns

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, has urged the government to strengthen surveillance at the country’s borders following the confirmation of an Ebola case in Nigeria. He said Ghana must intensify monitoring at major points of entry, particularly land borders, to minimise the risk of the virus spreading into the country.

In a press statement issued on Monday, October 26, Dr Agyemang, who is also a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, said Ghana’s regional travel networks, commercial activities and population movements created potential pathways for disease transmission. “Early detection, effective surveillance and rapid response remain our strongest safeguards against a public health emergency,” he said.

Dr Agyemang acknowledged the Ministry of Health’s announcement of intensified surveillance and preparedness measures, including enhanced monitoring at Kotoka International Airport. However, he stressed that preparedness must go beyond public announcements to demonstrate operational readiness across the health system. He called on the government, through the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, to activate regional and district rapid response teams, assess the readiness of designated isolation and treatment facilities, and ensure adequate supplies of personal protective equipment and diagnostic materials.

He also urged the government to prioritise practical training for frontline healthcare workers, emergency simulation exercises, laboratory preparedness and clear referral protocols. “Adequate financial resources must be released promptly to support these interventions rather than waiting until a confirmed case exposes weaknesses in our preparedness,” he said.

The MP further called for timely and evidence-based public communication to educate Ghanaians on Ebola symptoms, preventive measures and appropriate reporting channels without creating unnecessary fear. He also urged stronger collaboration with the World Health Organisation, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and neighbouring countries to facilitate information sharing and coordinated responses.

Dr Agyemang expressed concern about what he described as insufficient publicly demonstrated progress in addressing issues he raised in an earlier statement on March 27, 2026, regarding Ghana’s public health emergency preparedness. He called on the Minister for Health to provide Parliament and the public with a clear account of funds allocated, released and utilised for emergency preparedness, alongside evidence of operational improvements achieved since March.

“Public health security must be measured by concrete action, not assurances alone,” he said. Dr Agyemang noted that no Ebola case had been confirmed in Ghana as of the latest official Ghanaian update cited in his statement, but cautioned against complacency. “Ghana must not wait for its first confirmed Ebola case before discovering gaps in its public health emergency response system,” he said.

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