The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, has marked the 2025 World Tuberculosis (TB) Day with a strong commitment to eliminating the disease.
This year’s global theme, “Yes, We Can End TB! Commit, Invest, Deliver,” highlights the need for decisive action and sustained investment to eradicate tuberculosis.
At the event, stakeholders identified key barriers to TB control in Ghana, including stigma, limited access to diagnostic tools, and inadequate funding.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasized Ghana’s progress in TB detection while acknowledging existing challenges.
He revealed that in 2024, Ghana recorded over 20,000 TB cases, marking an improvement in case detection but still falling short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) estimated annual target of 44,000 cases.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh reaffirmed the government’s dedication to eradicating TB through increased funding for TB control initiatives.
He announced plans to enhance access to diagnostic tools such as GeneXpert machines and digital X-rays, strengthen healthcare systems, and ensure that no TB patient goes undiagnosed or untreated.
He urged Ghanaians to support the campaign by raising awareness, assisting TB patients, and promoting early testing.
“Each of us has a role to play in ending TB. We must ask ourselves—how can we contribute? Can we educate others, support those affected, or encourage testing?” he challenged the audience.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, underscored the need for leadership at all levels to commit to eradicating TB.
He stressed that sustained investment in TB prevention, diagnostics, and treatment, coupled with a strengthened healthcare system and strategic partnerships, is crucial to achieving this goal.
He further noted that the National TB Control Program has updated its guidelines to align with WHO’s latest recommendations.
Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, chairperson of the Advisory Board of the National TB Control Program, emphasized Ghana’s intensified research efforts to improve case detection.
She urged stakeholders to continue investing resources, time, and personnel into TB control initiatives to meet the national target of eradicating the disease.
The commemoration of World TB Day 2025 serves as a nationwide call to action. The government and health authorities remain steadfast in their mission to eliminate TB and enhance the overall well-being of Ghanaians.
Citizens are encouraged to unite in the fight against tuberculosis, ensuring that every affected individual receives the necessary care and support.
