The Director General of the Ghana Health Service has directed the Navrongo Health Research Centre and the Kintampo Health Research Centre to intensify research into the root causes of Ghana’s recurring seasonal meningitis outbreaks, urging scientists to produce clear evidence that can help end the annual loss of lives.
During a high level visit to communities within Ghana’s meningitis belt, the Director General, Dr Akoriyea, met management and research teams of the two centres in separate engagements. He was accompanied by Council Members Dr Gina Teddy and Dr Michael Kofi Amedi.
The visit was aimed at assessing preparedness, engaging key stakeholders, and strengthening collaboration in the fight against meningitis, a disease that continues to surface each dry season and disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.
Addressing researchers, Dr Akoriyea spoke with urgency and concern about the pattern of outbreaks that return year after year, often between December and May.
“We have been having these seasonal outbreaks for some time now. We need to know what is accounting for it, and how we can prevent it as a country,” he said.
He stressed that the Service requires solid scientific data to guide policy decisions, improve interventions, and ensure that limited resources are directed where they are most needed.
“We want you to come out and tell us why this seasonal pattern exists and why our people are dying. We want evidence based findings so that we can put an end to it,” he added.
Ghana lies within Africa’s meningitis belt, where outbreaks are commonly linked to dry winds, dust, overcrowding, and delays in accessing healthcare. However, the Director General insisted that the country must rely on locally generated research to clearly establish why cases peak during specific months, what environmental and social factors drive transmission, whether there are gaps in vaccination coverage and surveillance, and which prevention strategies will work best for affected communities.
He underscored his vision of placing research at the centre of healthcare delivery, noting that scientific institutions must play a leading role in shaping public health decisions.
“Research must lead the Service in service delivery. It should take the lead in ensuring that we provide evidence based services to the populace,” he said.
Beyond statistics and policy discussions, the Director General reminded researchers of the human cost behind every outbreak.
“Every child or person that dies is a burden to us as a Service. These are lives we must protect,” he said.
The meetings also provided an opportunity to push for stronger collaboration between research centres, regional health directorates, community leaders, and policymakers. The Service is seeking actionable recommendations to improve early warning systems, enhance surveillance and rapid response, and strengthen community education and behavioural change efforts.
Dr Akoriyea assured the two research institutions of management’s full support as they expand studies aimed at helping Ghana move from reacting to outbreaks to preventing them.
With the expertise available at the Navrongo and Kintampo centres and the backing of leadership, he expressed optimism that Ghana can better understand the seasonal pattern of meningitis and implement targeted measures to protect lives across the belt.
He ended with a clear charge to the researchers.
“Let us generate the evidence that will save lives. The country is counting on us.”
