Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has confirmed a recent rise in COVID-19 cases, attributing the majority of infections to an outbreak on the University of Ghana campus.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, July 1, the Minister said 107 cases had been confirmed out of 316 suspected samples, with the Omicron variant identified as the primary driver of the surge.
“As of now, 316 suspected cases, 107 of those cases have been confirmed as COVID-19. Fortunately, no hospitalisations and no deaths,” he told lawmakers.
Mr. Akandoh explained that the outbreak is currently limited to the university community and has not spread significantly to other parts of Accra or the country.
He linked the rise in infections to recent Hall Week celebrations on the Legon campus, where large crowds gathered with minimal adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols.
“Mr. Speaker, after sending in a team to investigate, we found a few key issues that fuelled the spread. The most significant factor was the recent Hall Week celebrations held at the University. These events brought large crowds together, with little use of face masks or distancing,” he noted.
In response, the Ministry of Health has deployed a national response team to work closely with university and municipal health officials. The Minister said meetings were also held with the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, heads of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, and the School of Public Health.
As part of the containment measures, all future hall week activities on campus have been suspended. Additionally, nationwide alerts have been sent to health facilities to remain vigilant.
A campus-wide public education campaign has also been rolled out using posters, student leadership platforms, and university radio stations to reinforce adherence to public health protocols.
The Minister urged the general public to remain cautious and continue observing preventive measures such as proper hand hygiene, wearing face masks in crowded areas, and getting vaccinated, especially those who are due for booster shots.
“Avoid gathering if you are sick,” he advised.
