Our strategies have ensured absence of endemic polio cases in the country - GHS

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that Ghana successfully closed its type 2 poliovirus outbreak in August 2026, as the country joins the global community to commemorate World Polio Day.

The announcement was contained in a press release signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, on October 24, 2026.

This year's celebration is on the theme, "One Day, One Focus: Ending Polio for Good."

According to the GHS, Ghana has made significant progress in the fight against polio through routine immunisation, supplementary campaigns, outbreak response, and strong community mobilisation.

"These strategies have ensured the absence of endemic polio cases in the country. Yet, as the global health community reminds us, 'a polio case anywhere is a polio case everywhere,'" the statement said.

The Service noted that continued vigilance through active surveillance and collaboration with partners remains essential to achieve global eradication.

The GHS disclosed that the closure was achieved in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and international partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, GAVI, Rotary International, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"This milestone, confirmed through rigorous Outbreak Response Assessments (OBRA), demonstrates Ghana's strong surveillance, immunisation, and rapid response systems," the statement noted.

The achievement places Ghana alongside Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda as five African countries that collectively closed their type 2 poliovirus outbreaks in August 2026.

The GHS attributed the success to years of investment in routine immunisation, noting that since introducing the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in 2018 and a second dose in 2024, "Ghana has consistently maintained immunisation coverage levels above 95%, ensuring children across the country are protected against paralysis caused by polioviruses."

Marking the Day, the Service called for collective action to safeguard future generations.

"On this occasion, we call on all Ghanaians to support this cause by ensuring that every eligible child is vaccinated. Polio is a deadly disease that can cause lifelong paralysis, but it is entirely preventable through vaccination. Together, we can protect our children and secure a polio-free future for Ghana," Dr Akoriyea stated.

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service reaffirmed their commitment to a polio-free Ghana and called on all to unite to end polio for good.