The Ghana National PolioPlus Committee (GNPPC), in collaboration with its partners, has unveiled a giant “End Polio Now” billboard at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to eradicating poliomyelitis globally.
The ceremony, held last Friday in Accra, formed part of activities marking this year’s World Polio Day, which is commemorated annually on October 24. The 2025 theme, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere,” calls for sustained efforts to ensure that no child is left unprotected against the disease.
The Chair of the Ghana National PolioPlus Committee, Past Assistant Governor Gertrude Adzo Akpalu, led the event, which drew participation from the Rotary District Governor, Nana Yaa Siriboe, past and current Rotary executives, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors, as well as representatives from the Ghana Health Service, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Ministry of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other stakeholders.
Also present were representatives from the Indian High Commission, First Bank Ghana, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Help My Cause Foundation, and members of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Akpalu reaffirmed Rotary’s unwavering commitment to the global campaign to eradicate polio, describing it as the organisation’s highest priority. “Ending polio remains at the heart of Rotary’s mission. This billboard is not just a symbol of awareness; it is a call to action for everyone to support vaccination and public health efforts,” she said.
District Governor Nana Yaa Siriboe praised the collective efforts of partners and volunteers who continue to ensure vaccination reaches every child. “Thank you all for helping to eradicate polio,” she stated.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Raymond Dankoli, Coordinator of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and Professor John Kofi Odoom, a virologist at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, who emphasised the importance of continued surveillance to detect and contain new variants of the poliovirus, especially those linked to poor sanitation.
Ghana has achieved more than 99 per cent eradication of the disease, though occasional variant cases persist in communities with low sanitation standards. The unveiling of the billboard serves as a reminder of the need to maintain high vaccination coverage and public awareness to prevent any resurgence.
Rotarians and volunteers at the event carried placards with inscriptions such as “Make History Today,” “Thank You for Helping to Eradicate Polio,” and “I Want to End Polio,” as they renewed their call for global unity in fighting the disease.
Polio, a highly infectious viral disease, has no cure but can be prevented through vaccination. The virus remains endemic in only two countries — Afghanistan and Pakistan — but experts warn that until total eradication is achieved, no country is safe.
The Ghana National PolioPlus Committee’s initiative forms part of Rotary International’s decades-long partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and the CDC to eliminate the disease and promote awareness of vaccine-preventable illnesses worldwide.
