The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has urged health officials, traditional leaders and residents in the Upper West Region to intensify efforts to achieve 100 per cent yellow fever vaccination coverage, as authorities work to contain an outbreak of the disease. Editorial Standards
Dr Akoriyea made the appeal during a visit to Siriyiri in the Wa West District on October 22, 2026. He said vaccination coverage in the community had reached 92 per cent at the time of his visit, but stressed that the remaining eligible residents must also be reached.
“We intend to cover 100 per cent of the entire community. So far, we have been able to cover 92 per cent. It means we are not concluding,” he said, according to reports.
The Director-General called on chiefs, queen mothers, youth groups and community members to support health workers in mobilising residents who had not yet received the vaccine. He emphasised that the goal was to ensure that no eligible person was left unprotected.
The campaign is part of Ghana’s response to confirmed yellow fever cases in the Upper West Region. The Ghana Health Service has been conducting a reactive vaccination exercise in Wa West, Sissala East and Sissala West, districts identified as part of the outbreak response.
The five-day campaign began on October 14 and was scheduled to end on October 18, 2026. According to the GHS, the exercise aimed to vaccinate approximately 244,869 people aged between nine months and 60 years across the three districts.
Health workers were deployed to health facilities and temporary vaccination points at strategic public locations, including markets, bus stations, schools, churches and mosques.
Mobile teams were also sent to towns, villages and other settlements to reach eligible residents who might have difficulty accessing vaccination services.
The GHS said the campaign was designed to halt the spread of yellow fever and protect communities at risk. Residents who receive the vaccine are issued vaccination cards as official proof of immunisation, and the Service has advised them to keep the cards safely.
The vaccination drive follows the confirmation of three yellow fever cases in the Upper West Region, all of which resulted in deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The cases were confirmed after investigations into suspected infections reported at health facilities in Sissala West and Wa West.
The Ministry of Health, working with the GHS and the World Health Organisation, activated emergency response structures and deployed rapid response teams to affected communities.
The teams are supporting surveillance, case finding, public education and other measures to contain the outbreak. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It does not spread directly from one person to another.
Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea and weakness. Severe infections can cause jaundice, bleeding and damage to vital organs.
Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent yellow fever. The World Health Organisation states that a single dose provides long-lasting protection for most people, making immunisation a critical public health intervention during outbreaks.
Dr Akoriyea cautioned residents against allowing fear and misinformation to discourage them from receiving the vaccine.
He said the vaccine was safe and available free of charge during the campaign, and urged residents to cooperate with health workers conducting house-to-house visits and other outreach activities.
He also called on community leaders to help health teams reach mobile populations, including people moving between communities and neighbouring countries.
The GHS is working with veterinary services and local leaders to support outreach and assess the vaccination and healthcare needs of people who may otherwise be missed.
The Director-General further appealed to journalists to provide accurate public education on yellow fever and vaccination, stressing the importance of protecting children and other vulnerable groups from preventable diseases.
The visit also highlighted healthcare delivery challenges in Siriyiri.
A representative of the traditional leadership, Siri-Naa Alhassan, reportedly said the community served about five communities with a combined population of approximately 2,360 people but had only two nurses.
He appealed for additional health personnel, improved infrastructure and a motorbike to support outreach services, noting that health workers sometimes depended on community members for transportation to surrounding settlements.
The call for 100 per cent coverage underscores the importance of public participation in outbreak control.
Health authorities say vaccination, early reporting of symptoms, mosquito control and reliable public information are all necessary to reduce the risk of further infections.
As Ghana continues its response in the Upper West Region, the GHS is urging eligible residents in the affected districts to take advantage of vaccination services and work with health teams. Corrections Policy
Achieving full coverage, the Service says, is essential to protecting communities and preventing the outbreak from spreading further.