Member of Parliament for Daffiama Bussie Issa, Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, has raised alarm over the escalating meningitis outbreak in the Upper West Region, calling for urgent government action and international support to contain the crisis.
In a statement delivered on the floor of Parliament, Dr. Sandaare revealed that as of epidemiological week 6 of 2025, the region had recorded 60 suspected cases and 14 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 23.33%—one of the highest in recent years.
“This situation is extremely concerning. If urgent measures are not taken, we risk losing more lives. I am appealing to the Government, WHO, UNICEF, and other stakeholders to immediately mobilize financial and logistical support to help control this outbreak,” he stated.
Dr. Sandaare emphasized that meningitis remains a major public health challenge in Ghana, particularly in the northern regions, which lie within the African Meningitis Belt—a high-risk zone stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia.
“The Upper West Region has experienced frequent meningitis outbreaks due to its geographical location, harsh climatic conditions, and limited healthcare infrastructure,” he noted.
Data from 2012 to 2025 shows fluctuating outbreaks, with major peaks in 2016 (734 cases), 2017 (425 cases), and 2020 (421 cases, including 56 deaths). While cases declined in 2022 and 2023, the case fatality rates have remained high.
Dr. Sandaare outlined several key factors contributing to the spread and severity of meningitis outbreaks in Ghana: Climatic Conditions: The dry Harmattan season (November–April) creates an environment conducive to bacterial infections; Overcrowding: Schools, prisons, and poorly ventilated homes facilitate transmission; Poor Healthcare Access: Many rural communities lack healthcare infrastructure, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
Others include Limited Vaccine Coverage: While MenAfriVac has reduced serogroup A meningitis, new strains like W135 and X continue to pose challenges and; Cross-Border Movement: Ghana shares borders with countries that also experience frequent outbreaks, increasing the risk of transmission.
Dr. Sandaare called for long-term reforms to strengthen epidemic response capabilities, including Budgetary allocations for outbreak preparedness, equitable health worker distribution, public health education, improved healthcare infrastructure, cross-border collaboration and establishment of a public health emergency fund
Contributing to the statement several MPs including Dr. Mark Kurt Nawani of Nabdam constituency and Minority Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh urged the government and relevant agencies to act swiftly, warning that failure to intervene could lead to further loss of lives.
They stressed that the high mortality rate in the outbreak is unacceptable hence the need for coordinated emergency response to prevent more deaths.