Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Prof. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has urged West African leaders to take greater ownership of the fight against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases, emphasizing the need for strong political will backed by sustainable financing and regional vaccine development.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2nd ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference (8–11 September 2025), Dr. Ayensu-Danquah stressed that while global partnerships remain essential, West Africa must mobilize its own resources to build resilient health systems.
“With the recent announcements of aid cuts, it is obvious we cannot continue to rely only on international aid. Leaders in this region must equally commit resources into the fight against Lassa fever and emerging infectious diseases. Our people deserve systems that are resilient and adequately financed from the many resources within West Africa,” she told GhanaHealthNest.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah highlighted Ghana’s progress under President John Dramani Mahama, citing the African Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, which reinforced Africa’s path toward self-reliance in healthcare, including local vaccine production and innovative financing frameworks. She noted that Ghana is already making targeted investments: participating in phase 2a Lassa fever vaccine trials, supporting the National Vaccine Institute, and achieving WHO Maturity Level 3 regulatory status through the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) positioning Ghana among Africa’s leading regulators.
At the Abidjan conference, convened by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), health ministers and regional leaders made strong political pledges to scale up surveillance, expand laboratory capacity, accelerate vaccine development, and secure sustainable financing for epidemic preparedness.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to partner with ECOWAS, WAHO, and other stakeholders to turn lessons from recent outbreaks, including Ghana’s own Lassa fever response, into concrete regional action.
“Political will must be matched with action. This means investing in laboratories, surveillance systems, vaccine research, and, most importantly, ensuring that funding for outbreaks is available and accessible when it is needed most,” she added.
The outcomes of the Abidjan meeting are expected to shape new financing and policy frameworks for Lassa fever control and epidemic preparedness across West Africa, with Ghana through Dr. Ayensu-Danquah’s leadership signaling a clear commitment to regional health security.
By : Lawrence Appiani Yeboah