NewzA 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,…
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.
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