Ghana Intensifies Fight Against Hepatitis with New Technical Team
Ghana has stepped up efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 with the launch of a National Viral Hepatitis Technical Working Group and the appointment of award-winning musician Okyeame Kwame as the country’s National Hepatitis Ambassador.
The announcement was made during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day 2026, organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service under the theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.”
The event brought together health professionals, policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen the national response to a disease that affects an estimated 10 per cent of Ghana’s population.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister for Health, Chief Director Desmond Boateng described viral hepatitis as a major public health challenge that requires sustained collaboration and public participation.
He said the government is expanding key interventions, including the nationwide rollout of the Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine to help protect newborns from infection.
He also encouraged Ghanaians to make regular hepatitis screening a priority, noting that early diagnosis remains one of the most effective ways to reduce infections, improve treatment outcomes and achieve the country’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2030.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, said hepatitis services are being integrated into primary healthcare to improve access to screening, treatment and prevention across the country. Health experts at the event disclosed that about three million Ghanaians are living with Hepatitis B, while more than 500,000 are affected by Hepatitis C.
One of the highlights of the event was the appointment of Okyeame Kwame as National Hepatitis Ambassador in recognition of his more than 15 years of public advocacy and free hepatitis screening campaigns. As part of his renewed commitment, the musician unveiled a new awareness song designed to encourage more people to get tested and help reduce the stigma surrounding the disease.
Development partners and stakeholders from the health and pharmaceutical sectors also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ghana’s hepatitis elimination agenda by expanding access to testing, vaccination and treatment services nationwide.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
