Ghana achieves 97% reduction in malaria deaths

The country has been able to reduce deaths caused by malaria by over 97 per cent between 2014 and 2024.

In addition to this, outpatient department cases have also seen a three per cent decline, while hospital admissions due to malaria have fallen by 17 per cent.

At an event to commemorate the 2025 World Malaria Day, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the country’s National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (2023 to 2028) aimed to reduce deaths caused by malaria by 51 per cent.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, at the event, the minister stated that under the plan, there was also a target of 36 per cent drop in under-five malaria case fatality rate in 2024, using 2022 as a baseline, emphasising that there was also a plan to ensure a steady roll-out of malaria vaccine with over 70 per cent coverage for the first dose.

“We will continue to expand effective interventions such as indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated nets distribution, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnancy, case management, malaria vaccines and other new interventions,” he said.

He, therefore, called on all to sustain the momentum by inspiring action in every home, school and district to help eradicate malaria.

“Let us ensure that every Ghanaian, young or old, understands that malaria elimination begins with us.

“Together, with commitment, knowledge and collective action, we can, and we will make history,” he added.

Commemoration

The day is commemorated on April 25 each year to raise awareness of the global effort to control and ultimately eradicate malaria.

The day highlights the need for sustained investment and political commitment in malaria prevention and control efforts.

The 2025 commemoration is on the theme: "Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”.

It is a grass-roots campaign aimed at reinvigorating efforts at all levels — from global policy to community action —  to accelerate progress toward elimination.

The Holy Child R/C Basic School, Tema West, won this year’s malaria quiz, grabbing tablets, projectors, among other prizes.

Efforts

The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, said the improvements were the result of dedicated efforts by “our health workers, policy makers, partners and the communities who continue to engage and respond”.

“Our investment in data-driven planning, targeted interventions and community mobilisation is clearly yielding results,” he said.

Giving updates on the progress made so far, Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign was successfully implemented across 28 districts.

“Through collaborative effort and strong field coordination, the GHS had achieved an impressive coverage rate of 53 per cent,” he stated.

Model communities

In addition to that, the GHS Director of Public Health said there had been the successful distribution of over 19 million insecticide-treated nets during the recent mass campaign.

In the 21 districts earmarked for elimination, he said they had recorded a notable reduction in malaria positivity rates from 20.9 per cent to 16 per cent.

These districts, he said, were becoming models of what was possible when leadership, community ownership and smart interventions align.

“The Government of Ghana demonstrated its continued commitment to malaria elimination by directly supporting the implementation in two of these districts.”

“This is a testament to the power of partnership and national ownership in driving progress towards a malaria-free Ghana,” he said.