Africa: Ghana Steps Up Emergency Preparedness With Africa CDC Support

What the report says

Africa CDC is helping Ghana strengthen its public health emergency preparedness, with support focused on the country’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs). According to AllAfrica’s report, the centres are intended to coordinate information, expertise and resources during health emergencies. The latest phase of support was centered in Accra and included a training and coordination effort held from 21-25 September, bringing together 50 technical experts from national and subnational institutions.

The participants came from the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health, veterinary and environmental services, immigration and port health, local government, emergency services, the military and police. International and civil society partners also took part, including the World Health Organization, AFENET, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and civil society groups. The training covered PHEOC management functions, the Incident Management System, emergency planning, information and resource management, situation reporting, standard operating procedures and simulation exercises.

The report says Africa CDC has supported Ghana over the past two years with equipment, communications and data infrastructure, operational systems and workforce development. Ghana health officials said preparedness depends not only on facilities and equipment, but also on governance, trained staff and regular testing. Africa CDC’s regional office said it will continue backing Ghana with updated emergency plans, stronger staffing and surge capacity, more exercises and a costed national training plan. The effort matters because stronger coordination can improve detection, decision-making and response during outbreaks or other public health threats.