Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, has warned that Ghana is not adequately prepared for a possible Ebola outbreak, urging authorities to strengthen emergency response systems, border vigilance and public education.
He expressed concern about the country’s readiness, citing frequent travel and substantial trade between Ghana and Nigeria, as well as movement through land borders and the need to ensure health facilities and airport screening arrangements can respond effectively if a case is detected.
“Our preparedness for the Ebola outbreak is not where it should be. We should be worried because there is significant cross-border movement between Ghana and Nigeria.”
Dr Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and a member of Parliament’s Health Committee
Agyemang argued that infectious diseases could spread through travel, trade and regular interactions between neighbouring countries. He noted that many Ghanaians travel to Nigeria, while commercial exchanges create frequent movement requiring public health monitoring.
He maintained that Ghana must remain vigilant, but questioned whether current efforts matched the level of exposure. “However, from what I have observed, I do not think we are doing enough.”
The MP urged authorities to assess whether facilities and resources established during the COVID-19 pandemic remain available and could be deployed if Ebola or another infectious disease reached the country.
Health Facilities and Pandemic Lessons
He stressed that healthcare facilities would be central to any emergency response, questioning whether Ghana has the infrastructure needed to manage an outbreak. He asked whether the country had allowed its guard to drop after COVID-19 and whether investments made during that period remained useful.
“Given the devastating impact COVID-19 had on our health system,” he argued, Ghana should already be applying lessons learnt from that experience. He emphasised that authorities must translate those lessons into practical measures to protect the public.
He also urged officials to examine readiness around land borders, including Aflao and other border towns, as well as communities within the Greater Accra Region. These locations, he indicated, should form part of preparations for a possible first case because of cross-border movement.
Public Education on Ebola Needs Attention
Agyemang expressed concern about what he viewed as limited public education on Ebola. He questioned whether major media organisations had broadcast public health announcements explaining the disease and how people should behave to reduce transmission risks.
He stressed when discussing whether he had seen public campaigns on Ebola. He added that the Ministry of Health and district health directorates did not appear to have sufficiently activated public education and awareness activities.
The MP warned that communities needed clear information alongside technical preparation within health institutions. He referred to places such as Okomle and other communities, arguing that the absence of public education in such areas was concerning.
“If a major media organisation such as Multimedia has not aired a public service announcement explaining Ebola or how people should behave to prevent its spread, then we have a serious problem,”
Dr Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South and a member of Parliament’s Health Committee
He argued that media platforms and local health structures should inform residents about Ebola and practical steps to reduce exposure. Public awareness, he maintained, should be part of national preparedness rather than an afterthought once an outbreak has been detected.
Agyemang Calls for Stronger Airport Screening
The MP called for stronger preventive measures at airports, noting that although some arrangements appeared to be in place, more needed to be done. Public health protection, he argued, should begin as passengers disembark and move towards the arrival area, with clear procedures to identify potential risks.
He urged the Ghana Health Service to strengthen screening and prevention efforts while expanding public education on hygiene and other protective practices. Airport checks, he indicated, must complement community awareness and monitoring of cross-border movement.
Agyemang noted that infectious diseases could emerge from different sources and spread through human activity.
Preparedness Must Extend Beyond Ebola
He called for an approach to emergency readiness, arguing that Ghana must take Ebola preparedness and pandemic planning seriously.
He urged authorities not to become complacent and to act before a crisis exposes gaps in the system. He called for lessons from the pandemic to inform current decisions, including the availability of health infrastructure, public information and preventive measures at points of entry.
He argued that Ghana must intensify public awareness and prepare adequately rather than wait for an outbreak to reveal weaknesses in its emergency response.
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