Ghana- Africa CDC sign MoU for data sharing , cross-border surveillance
Ghana government and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for data sharing and cross-border surveillance. This agreement aims to strengthen epidemic intelligence and enhance health security in Ghana and the region.
Briefing the media at presidency on Wednesday, 14th May, 2025, minister of health Kwabena Mintah Akando suggested, Ghana can collaborate well with the Africa CDC to be able to stockpile emergency supplies.
“It is not at the middle of pandemic, where we’ll be thinking about where to get emergency supplies. We think that we can collaborate well to stockpile these emergency supplies.” Health Minister.
Health Minister emphasized that, Ghana is strategically positioned at the moment to manufacture our own vaccines, cited, Ghana has established what we call National Vaccine Institute, and so the country is well pleased to produce it’s own vaccines.
“ And we have other leading pharmaceutical companies who have taken lead in that respect. And as we all recall during the pandemic, we have countries who looked into our eyes and told us that look not until they satisfy their citizens. They were not going to allow the export of vaccines into our country.” Hon. Akando said.
“Therefore I think that, we must learn lessons from that to be able to prepare adequately for any future pandemic. We also think that we should be able to build or scale up our primary health care services as we roll out the free primary health care. The Mahama cares also needs some kind of collaboration for its sustainability, and it can also be an innovation that can also be emulated.” He added.
Hon. Mintah Akando indicated that, the resource supports from other partner, donors or development partners, are dwindling.
“We all know that we have been signalled that by the year 2030, will be exiting Gavi, and therefore there is a need for us to find a sustainable way of financing our vaccines in this country.” He stressed.
He revealed that Ghana has collaborated so well with Africa CDC, and that, we have enjoyed, some support from Africa CDC for some time now.
“We have enjoyed about $2.4 million to strengthen our primary health care system, have trained, about 400 epidemiologists, and it is by their assistance, they raise not less than $400,000 to train such people. At the moment, they have also assisted us to raise not less than 1.6 million for the procurement and delivery of coaching and IT equipment as country.” He highlighted.
Director general for the African Centres for Disease Control (CDC) Dr. Jean Kaseya, also emphasized the need for African countries to prepare for a future without significant donor funding, as indicated by Gates’ statement about the Gates foundation’s eventual end.
Dr. Jean Kaseya expressed admiration for African health ministers, noting that many are not medical doctors but are still excelling in their roles.
“ My colleagues, I tried to confirm that the best ministers of health we have in Africa are not medical doctors and, I believe on that some of our colleagues I meet who are Minister of Health, who are not medical doctors, they are doing great job.” Dr. Jean Kaseya.
He lauded various sectors in Ghana, including the Private and public sectors, for their contributions and expressed support from the African Union and Africa CDC.
