Ebola: Ghana Says It Is Prepared as Health Ministry Steps Up Airport Screening

Ghana’s Health Minister says there is no need to panic over Ebola, and that the country is prepared to prevent and respond to any possible case.

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh gave the assurance during a visit to Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, where he outlined the measures in place.

The measures include thermal scanners installed at the airport, electronic health declaration forms for arriving passengers, laboratory testing capacity and isolation facilities to detect and manage any suspected case.

The electronic forms have been reviewed and amended, and passengers arriving through Ghana’s airports will be required to complete them. The forms help health authorities assess passengers and trace contacts quickly if a suspected or confirmed case emerges.

On testing, the Minister pointed to the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) and the national reference laboratory. An infectious disease treatment centre is also available to isolate and manage patients if an outbreak occurs.

The preparedness push follows Ebola outbreaks in the region. The Health Ministry has said the Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing an outbreak, Kenya reported an imported case on October 6, 2026, with six additional cases by October 17, and Nigeria reported a confirmed case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20.

The Ministry says Kenya poses a significant risk to Ghana because of direct flights and higher passenger volumes, while frequent travel between Ghana and Nigeria adds to the risk. That is why surveillance at entry points has been strengthened, with airport screening, simulation exercises at Kotoka and at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, and engagement with the Ghana Airports Company, the Civil Aviation Authority and other partners.

Ghana has not recorded any Ebola case. The Minister’s message was simple: “We are praying we don’t record any case, but if we do, we are ready to do the needful. So we should not be afraid.”

For travellers, the practical point is straightforward: expect screening at the airport and complete the health declaration form when asked. The system is designed to catch a suspected case early, isolate it and trace contacts before it can spread.

Sources: Citi Newsroom reporting on the Minister’s visit; Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health release of October 28, 2026, as reported.

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