Parliament House, Accra | July 1, 2025
Ghana’s Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has moved to calm public concerns following a COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Ghana, assuring Parliament and the general public that there have been no hospitalisations or deaths linked to the recent surge in cases.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Monday, July 1, the Minister confirmed that 107 out of 316 suspected cases tested positive for COVID-19. However, he emphasised that all confirmed patients are recovering well and that the situation remains under control.
“As of today, 1st July, we have 316 suspected cases. 107 of those cases have been confirmed as COVID-19. There are no hospitalisations and, importantly, no deaths,” he stated. “This should give us confidence that the outbreak, though concerning, is being managed effectively.”
The Minister explained that the outbreak is confined to the university community and has not spread to the wider Accra area or other parts of the country. According to him, the flare-up was driven largely by recent Hall Week celebrations, which involved large gatherings with limited adherence to COVID-19 protocols such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
Despite the rise in numbers, the Minister assured that the Omicron sub-variant responsible for the outbreak is not new, is known to spread fast, but typically results in mild symptoms.
“I want to assure Ghanaians that this is not a new virus, and we are not back to 2020,” he added. “We’ve seen this variant before. It is mostly mild, and we know how to manage it.”
To prevent further spread, government teams were quickly deployed to support university and municipal health officials. A campus-wide health education campaign was launched, all Hall Week activities were suspended, and nationwide health alerts were issued.
Additionally addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps, Hon. Akandoh indicated that the government is reinforcing health infrastructure on campus, including the provision of resources to Legon Hospital and the Student Clinic, and preparations at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre to handle any potential severe cases.
The Minister concluded his address by urging the public—especially students—to remain vigilant, adhere to safety protocols, and seek medical attention early if symptoms arise.
“This is a localised outbreak. There is no cause for panic,” he said. “With calm, cooperation, and public health vigilance, we will overcome this too.”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
