The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has confirmed 107 cases of COVID-19 at the University of Ghana, with 316 more suspected cases currently being investigated.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Akandoh said the outbreak is linked to an Omicron sub-variant but remains limited to the university campus. He assured the public that no hospitalisations or deaths have been recorded so far.
“As of today, 1st July, we have 107 confirmed cases, but importantly, no hospitalisations or deaths,” he said.
The Minister traced the rise in cases to recent Hall Week celebrations at the university, where large gatherings and poor adherence to safety protocols contributed to the spread. “The most significant factor was the Hall Week events, with little use of face masks or distancing,” he explained.
He also noted that delays in contact tracing and a decline in basic preventive measures made the situation worse. In response, the government has launched campus-wide awareness campaigns and increased testing.
The outbreak has come at a time when seasonal flu cases are also rising, which Mr. Akandoh said is common during Ghana’s rainy season. Since flu symptoms can be similar to COVID-19, he urged the public to get tested and seek medical help early.
Despite the end of routine COVID-19 vaccinations, the Minister said treatment options such as Paxlovid remain available for high-risk individuals. He also praised Ghana’s disease surveillance system for detecting the outbreak early.
“Our integrated monitoring of respiratory viruses allowed us to detect these cases early,” he said.
Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely and encourage everyone to follow safety guidelines.
