Ghana has made significant strides in the fight against malaria, recording a remarkable 97% reduction in malaria-related deaths between 2014 and 2024, according to the Ministry of Health.
At a ceremony to mark the 2025 World Malaria Day, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, in a speech read on his behalf by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, attributed the success to targeted national strategies and sustained public health interventions.
Under the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (2023–2028), Ghana is aiming to reduce malaria deaths by an additional 51%, alongside a 36% decrease in under-five malaria fatality rates, using 2022 as the baseline. The plan also seeks to achieve over 70% coverage for the first dose of the malaria vaccine.
“We will continue to expand effective interventions such as indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated nets distribution, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy, case management, and malaria vaccination,” the minister stated.
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Mr. Akandoh called on all Ghanaians to sustain the momentum through collective action, stressing that malaria elimination requires efforts at every level — from households and schools to local and national authorities.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Health at the GHS, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, highlighted key gains in the country’s anti-malaria efforts. He disclosed that malaria outpatient department cases have declined by 3%, while hospital admissions related to malaria have dropped by 17%.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe noted that strategic initiatives, including indoor residual spraying across 28 districts and the distribution of over 19 million insecticide-treated nets, have contributed significantly to the progress.
Particularly noteworthy is the reduction in malaria positivity rates in 21 target districts, falling from 20.9% to 16%, positioning these areas as model communities for malaria elimination.
He emphasized the critical role of community engagement, data-driven planning, and government commitment in achieving these milestones, citing direct government support for implementation activities in two of the model districts.
The 2025 World Malaria Day was observed under the theme: “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, underscoring the need for renewed investment and grassroots participation to accelerate malaria elimination efforts globally and nationally.
The event also saw the Holy Child R/C Basic School from Tema West crowned winners of the annual malaria quiz competition, taking home tablets, projectors, and other educational prizes.
Ghana’s achievements serve as a strong demonstration of what is possible when leadership, innovation, and community ownership align toward a shared vision of a malaria-free future.
