Management of the University of Ghana (UG) has moved to calm fears following reports of a COVID-19 outbreak on campus, confirming that no deaths have occurred and no cases have required hospitalisation.
The reassurance came during a joint press briefing with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, where both university and government officials assessed the situation and outlined ongoing containment efforts.
Addressing stakeholders at the University of Ghana Hospital, management revealed that the outbreak was first detected when hospital testing data showed an unexpected spike in positive cases.
“We are very mindful that COVID has never completely gone away, so occasionally having COVID cases is not necessarily a cause for alarm but what caught our attention was that the percentage of positive cases was quite high and more than usual.
“The background of this particular outbreak seems to be one of those artist nights where we think there was some super spreading”
University Of Ghana Spokesperson
The spokesperson disclosed that in response to initial investigations, which traced the likely origin of the spike to a student event, the university took swift action, suspending all large non-academic gatherings, including hall week celebrations and entertainment programmes, to prevent further spread.
“Students are not happy with us, but as managers we need to do what we need to do,” management explained.
The university clarified that it had not considered closing the campus, choosing instead to implement strategic preventive steps in collaboration with the Dean of Students and the Ghana Health Service.
“We sensitised the community about the ongoing outbreak and advised everybody to take the necessary precautions. If we sustain the steps that are going to be put in place over the next week or two, I think we should be back to normal”
University Of Ghana Spokesperson
Efforts are also being supported by the National Influenza Centre at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which continues to conduct surveillance testing to track the progression of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, among university and regional populations.
Health Minister Confirms Decline
Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh also addressed the media during the site visit. Speaking at the university hospital, he confirmed that the outbreak appeared to be waning.
“We are told the outbreak is drastically reducing and at the moment we don’t have any severe cases at hand. We’ve not recorded any death, so I can assure you that the country is on top of the issues”
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister Of Health
He noted that the availability of treatment had significantly reduced the threat posed by the virus. “These days, COVID is not as dangerous as we used to know it,” he emphasized, charging students and all who were present not to panic in the least.
He also noted that the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service was collaborating with the University’s hospital and treatment facilities to give them whatever resources they need to be able to contain the situation.
As the university and health authorities continue their containment strategy, the emphasis remains on collective responsibility and vigilance. Management expressed hope that normalcy will return to campus life with proper adherence to health protocols.
“The data that we’ve seen shows that it seems the outbreak is slowing down – the rate of positivity is reducing and we think that we are moving in the right direction”
University Of Ghana Spokesperson
The Ministry of Health also underscored the need for public cooperation in maintaining preventive behaviour, especially during the rainy season when respiratory infections tend to spike.
While the outbreak at the University of Ghana is being handled without escalation, the episode serves as a reminder that COVID-19 remains a public health concern and requires continuous monitoring. Health officials urged all institutions to remain proactive in their response mechanisms.
The coordinated effort between government, academia, and the health sector, reflects broader commitment to public health, especially in educational institutions navigating health-related emergencies and campus safety.
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