Ghana Receives Upgraded Emergency Operations Center from Africa CDC
Ghana has officially received a fully upgraded Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), dramatically boosting the country’s capacity to detect, respond to, and manage public health crises. The handover ceremony was held at the EOC facility in Pantang, bringing together senior officials from the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, and Africa CDC.
During his remarks, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, stated that the modernized centre will become the nerve centre for coordinating national emergency response. He explained that it is equipped to process real-time data, guide decision making, and lead rapid interventions during outbreaks.
Dr. Womi Eteng Oboma Eteng, representing Africa CDC, emphasized how essential EOCs are to the continent’s disease control strategy. He noted that Ghana’s enhanced facility aligns with Africa CDC’s vision for stronger health systems that meet shared targets for outbreak detection, notification, and response.
Africa CDC’s regional leader, Dr. Kokou Nouwame Alinon, praised Ghana’s investment in emergency readiness. He highlighted the significance of the 7-1-7 target, a strategy that aims to detect a threat within 7 days, notify relevant stakeholders within 1 day, and respond within 7 days. He expressed confidence that the upgraded EOC will help Ghana meet this goal.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh described the facility as a critical step in strengthening Ghana’s resilience against emerging health threats. He noted that the EOC will support not only national coordination but also cross-border collaboration, making Ghana a regional hub for emergency management.
The facility was handed over fully equipped with advanced communication systems, data analytics tools, and monitoring technology. These resources are expected to facilitate seamless integration between district, regional, and national levels of the health system. According to officials, this will improve coordination and accelerate the deployment of response teams when an outbreak emerges.
This upgrade reflects lessons learned from recent public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders say having a central operations centre enables better planning, faster resource allocation, and efficient communication, which are all crucial to managing crises.
Looking ahead, health authorities plan to leverage the EOC for regular simulation exercises and public health trainings. The goal is to build a more agile response architecture that can handle future pandemics or health security threats swiftly.
For Ghana, the centre represents not just a facility but a long term investment in public health resilience. Experts hope that its operationalisation will help reduce the impact of disease outbreaks and save lives through coordinated and timely interventions.
