No Mass Gatherings Without Hand-Washing Stations, Health Minister Directs Amid Ebola Alert

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has ordered that all mass gatherings in Ghana must provide hand-washing facilities as part of efforts to guard against a potential Ebola outbreak.

The directive took effect on Friday, May 29, 2026, following an operational tour by the minister to review the country’s surveillance systems and emergency preparedness.

Akandoh visited key health and border facilities, including screening installations at Accra International Airport, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), and the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC). The tour was to assess Ghana’s capacity to detect and respond to Ebola cases.

Although Ghana has not recorded any Ebola infections, the government is ramping up vigilance due to outbreaks in parts of West Africa.

“It’s very important for all of us to cooperate. From today, there should not be any mass gatherings without a hand-washing station,” Akandoh told the media after the tour.

He stressed that providing hand-washing facilities at public events is critical to improving hygiene and cutting the risk of disease spread.

Health officials say Ghana remains on high alert. Surveillance, laboratory testing capacity, and emergency response systems are being strengthened to protect public health.