Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah (6th from left), Deputy Minister of Health, with Desmond Boateng (5th from left), Chief Director, Ministry of Health; Prof. Philip Adongo (6th from right), Professor of Health Behaviour, University of Ghana; Dr Kwame Amponsa-Achiano (4th from left), Head of Disease Prevention and Control Department, Ghana Health Service, and the new NITAG members. Picture: ELVIS NII NOI DOWUONA

Ministry of Health forms new immunisation advisory team

Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi Dec - 03 - 2025 , 06:57 3 minutes read

A 17-member National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) has been inaugurated by the Ministry of Health to provide high-quality and evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the country’s immunisation policies and health security.

The team, which is chaired by a Public Health Researcher and a Social and Behavioural Scientist, Prof. Philip Baba Adongo, include experts in paediatrics, epidemiology, microbiology, public health, pharmacy, immunology, health economics and the social sciences.

The other members are professors Anthony K. Enimil, Daniel Ansong, Anita Fafa Dartey and Paulina Onvomaha Tindana.

It also has Dr Kwame Amponsa-Achiano, Dr Samuel Oko Otokunor Sackey, Rev Dr Priscilla Awo Nortey, Stanley Kwasi Diamenu, Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe and Dr Belinda Afriyie Nimako as members.

Mr Martin Kusi, Bernard Selasi Dzomeku, Kwamena Essilfie Quaison, Dr Felix Osei Sarpong, Dr Dennis Odai Laryea and Fred Osei Sarpong are also members of the team.

Inauguration

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, during the inauguration ceremony in Accra yesterday, said the reconstitution of NITAG marked a renewed national commitment to enhance the country’s immunisation systems amid emerging global health challenges.

She said the intervention would help strengthen evidence-based immunisation policies, improve equity in vaccine access and respond effectively to emerging public health threats.

“This newly reconstituted NITAG places Ghana in a better position to meet current and future public health challenges,” she said.

Expectations

Dr Ayensu-Danquah said the government expected the new NITAG to offer timely and context-specific technical guidance that would support decisions on vaccine introduction, delivery strategies as well as the sustainable financing of immunisation.

She observed that emerging pathogens, rising vaccine hesitancy and advancements in immunisation technologies required stronger and coordinated policy direction backed by scientific evidence.

“Your impartial, evidence-based recommendations will be essential in ensuring that our immunisation programmes remain resilient, equitable and aligned with global best practices,” she added.

The Deputy Minister of Health further highlighted three key policy areas such as evidence-based policy development, enhanced national preparedness, health security and the promotion of transparency and collaboration.

These, she explained, aligned with the ministry’s broader agenda for stronger primary health care, and called on the members to support government’s efforts to make essential vaccines accessible and equitable for all.

The Chairperson of NITAG, Professor Philip Baba Adongo, on behalf of his colleagues assured of the committee’s commitment to delivering high-quality technical guidance to support the country’s immunisation programme.

“We accept this responsibility with dedication, we will bring our collective expertise to bear to ensure that the country’s immunisation policies are guided by the best available evidence,” he added, and said the team would work collectively to provide sound technical advise to strengthen the national immunisation programme.