The Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance and screening measures at Ghana’s points of entry following reports of Ebola cases in Kenya and Nigeria, amid an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a press release signed by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the ministry said Ghana had not recorded any Ebola case but was strengthening national preparedness to prevent the disease from entering the country.
“Although Ghana has not reported any Ebola case,” the ministry said, it was implementing measures to ensure “early detection, prompt isolation, and effective management of any suspected case.”
The announcement follows a report by Kenyan authorities on October 6, 2026, of an imported case of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus from the DRC. By October 17, six additional cases linked to the initial case had been reported, including among healthcare workers.
Nigerian authorities also reported a confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20, raising concerns about the potential risk of the disease spreading to Ghana.
According to the ministry, the situation in Kenya poses “a significant risk to Ghana” because of direct flights between the two countries and higher passenger volumes compared with travel from the DRC. It added that the confirmed case in Nigeria had compounded the risk because of frequent travel between the two countries.
The ministry said the developments had made it necessary to strengthen existing surveillance and screening measures, particularly at the airport.
As part of the response, the Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service and its partners, has engaged the Ghana Airports Company Limited, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and other stakeholders to improve coordination and preparedness.
Simulation exercises have also been conducted at the Accra International Airport and the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre to assess the country’s readiness to respond to suspected cases.
Other measures include enhanced screening at points of entry, monitoring travellers from high-risk areas throughout their stay in Ghana, strengthening laboratory preparedness and sensitising healthcare workers on the identification and management of suspected cases.
The ministry said public education and risk communication activities were also being undertaken at the airport to inform travellers about prevention and the actions to take if symptoms develop.
Ebola symptoms typically appear between two and 21 days after exposure, with an average incubation period of eight to 10 days. They include high fever, severe headache, extreme fatigue, sore throat and chills, with unexplained bleeding and confusion potentially developing later.
The ministry urged anyone who develops symptoms after travelling to an affected area or having contact with a suspected or confirmed case to seek prompt medical care and disclose their travel history to health workers.
It also indicated that travellers from affected areas would have their health monitored for 21 days, in line with public health protocols.
The ministry clarified that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials, and is not airborne.
It advised the public to practise good hand hygiene and avoid contact with anyone showing unexplained fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or bleeding.
The public was also cautioned against circulating unverified information and encouraged to follow official updates from health authorities.
The ministry reassured the public that it was working with relevant agencies and partners to protect public health, urging citizens to “remain calm, stay informed through official communication channels, and cooperate with public health authorities” as Ghana strengthens its preparedness and response measures.
