A Dramatic Decline in Malaria Cases and Deaths
Ghana has successfully reduced malaria-related deaths by over 97% from 2014 to 2024. Outpatient department cases dropped by 3%, and hospital admissions fell by 17%. The 2025 World Malaria Day, themed “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” highlighted these achievements and future goals from the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (2023-2028), which aims to further reduce deaths by 51% and under-five case fatality rates by 36% by 2028.
At the event, the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasized expanding effective interventions, including the rollout of the malaria vaccine with over 70% coverage for the first dose. The minister’s speech, delivered by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, encouraged everyone to uphold the momentum in homes, schools, and districts to eradicate malaria.
The Director of Public Health at the GHS, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, attributed improvements to efforts by health workers, policy makers, partners, and communities. The successful Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign, implemented across 28 districts, achieved a coverage rate of 53%. Additionally, over 19 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed, contributing to the decrease in malaria positivity rates in targeted districts.
Hopefully, Ghana becomes Malaria-free just like Cape Verde, until then the Ghana Health Service highlighted model communities where malaria positivity rates fell from 20.9% to 16%. The government’s support in two districts demonstrates a commitment to achieving a malaria-free Ghana through partnership and national ownership.
Source: CNR