Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has confirmed 107 cases of COVID-19 at the University of Ghana, following a spike in infections traced to recent Hall Week celebrations on campus.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Akandoh said the cases are part of 316 suspected infections currently under investigation. He noted that the outbreak is being driven by the Omicron variant, though there have been no hospitalisations or deaths reported so far.
“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 explained.
The Hall Week events, a longstanding tradition at the university, saw large numbers of students and visitors gathering on campus, many without observing COVID-19 safety protocols.
In response, the Ministry of Health has suspended all remaining Hall Week celebrations and dispatched a national response team to collaborate with university authorities and public health experts. The team has also held emergency meetings with the Ghana Health Service, Noguchi Memorial Institute, and the School of Public Health.
To contain further spread, health officials have ramped up testing and surveillance, particularly across educational institutions. A public education campaign is also underway on campus, using student leaders, posters, and university radio stations to spread awareness.
Mr Akandoh urged the public to remain cautious and continue following basic preventive measures such as hand hygiene, mask-wearing in crowded places, and timely vaccination, including booster doses.
“We are monitoring the situation closely,” the Minister assured. “This is a wake-up call. While the cases are currently mild, we must not let our guard down.”
Health alerts have also been sent to medical facilities nationwide, with authorities watching for any signs of wider community transmission.
