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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reported a rise in monkeypox (Mpox) infections, with confirmed cases climbing to nine as of May 21, 2025. This marks a more than twofold increase from the four cases confirmed just days earlier on May 18.
According to a GHS-issued health alert, the new cases have emerged in the Greater Accra and Western regions, prompting renewed calls for public vigilance and education.
Ghana recorded its first Mpox cases in June 2022 with five infections. By November 2023, health authorities had confirmed a total of 34 cases. The current total, with the nine new cases, brings the overall count to over 43, although the country has not recorded any Mpox-related deaths.
In a joint statement dated May 18, the Ministry of Health and GHS reassured the public of their continued commitment to containing the outbreak. “The Government of Ghana remains committed to safeguarding public health. Drawing on our experience in managing similar outbreaks, we will continue to implement appropriate measures to protect the health and well-being of all residents.”
The GHS has also called on media outlets to support the nationwide public education campaign aimed at raising awareness about Mpox symptoms and transmission, combating misinformation, and promoting early reporting and testing.
Mpox is a viral illness similar to smallpox, though generally less severe. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected individuals’ skin, lesions, or bodily fluids, including via sexual contact.
Symptoms may include fever and fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, skin rash or lesions (often painful), headache, muscle, and back pain. While Ghana has not recorded any Mpox-related deaths, the disease remains a major public health concern across Africa.
As of March 2025, more than 24,200 cases and 260 deaths have been reported across 22 African countries, highlighting the continued threat the virus poses to vulnerable populations and overstretched health systems.
The Ghana Health Service urges everyone to remain vigilant but calm, as the country strengthens its surveillance, contact tracing, and community outreach efforts.
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