Food handlers across Ghana will soon be required to take a mandatory typhoid vaccine as part of a new public health policy by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) aimed at reducing the spread of foodborne diseases and strengthening consumer safety.
The nationwide vaccination programme will target all categories of food handlers, including street food vendors, chop bar operators, market sellers, restaurant and hotel staff, and employees of food and beverage companies.
Once rolled out, the vaccine will provide three years of protection against typhoid fever and will be linked directly to the issuance of health certificates, which are mandatory for operating in the food industry.
Vaccination to Become a Requirement for Health Certification
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra last Thursday, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, said the initiative was designed to close long-standing gaps in typhoid prevention among food handlers.
Under the new policy, food handlers who fail to take the vaccine will not be issued or renewed health certificates, effectively barring them from operating.
“Food handlers occupy a critical position within our public health system. By the nature of their work, they are exposed to contamination and, if infected, can inadvertently transmit typhoid fever to large segments of the population,” Dr Akoriyea explained.
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Phased Rollout Across the Country
The programme will be implemented in phases, starting with hotels, restaurants, and food and beverage companies, before extending to market vendors and street food operators nationwide.
Dr Akoriyea noted that the vaccines to be used are World Health Organisation-qualified and approved by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority, meeting international safety and efficacy standards.
Although the cost of the vaccine has been subsidised by government, the final price payable by food handlers will be announced during the official launch in the coming weeks by the Ministry of Health and the GHS.
Stakeholder Backing and Public Education
The policy follows extensive consultations involving the Ministry of Health, the Food and Drugs Authority, the Ghana Tourism Authority, metropolitan and district assemblies, development partners, and representatives of the food and hospitality industry.
According to the GHS, the vaccination programme will be accompanied by public education campaigns, media engagements, and stakeholder sensitisation to build trust and ensure smooth implementation.
Dr Akoriyea urged industry players to support the initiative, describing it as a preventive public health investment that aligns with Ghana’s universal health coverage agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than treatment. This policy is about protecting lives, livelihoods, and public confidence in our food systems,” he added.
