WHO and Ministry of Health lead joint mission to Western Region in response to Mpox outbreak

In response to this worrying trend, a high-level joint mission comprising the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana visited the Western Region on 10 September 2025. The mission was led by Professor Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health; Dr. Fiona Braka, WHO Representative in Ghana; Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS); and Dr. Sally-Ann Ohene, WHO Country Preparedness and International Health Regulations Officer.

The visit aimed to engage regional and community leaders, assess the ongoing response, and better understand the factors driving the outbreak. The mission began with a courtesy call on the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, where discussions centered on the importance of local leadership and sustained vigilance to end the outbreak.

Speaking to various stakeholders during the visit, Professor Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health, underscored the importance of community involvement.

“The outbreak has shown us that strong community leadership is indispensable. We are in Western Region to strengthen our partnerships with local leaders, health workers, and communities, so that together we can bring this outbreak under control,” she said.

Mission members received updates on the region’s Mpox response, spanning surveillance, laboratory confirmation, case management, and risk communication. They also met with frontline health workers at Essipon Health Centre, where they interacted with a patient who had fully recovered, offering words of encouragement to her family and commendation to the health team. Preparations for vaccination were also assessed in anticipation of arrival of mpox vaccines soon.

“Our teams are working tirelessly, but we know this is a collective fight. The support from the Ministry, WHO, partners and our traditional leaders gives us confidence that we can turn the tide,” said Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu, Western Regional Director of Health, during the facility visit.

Recognizing the crucial role of community ownership, the delegation visited Nana Kofi Abuna V, Chief of Essipon, who has been championing community sensitization on Mpox prevention and response.

Since the onset of the outbreak, WHO has supported Ghana’s response with technical expertise, laboratory reagents, case management guidelines, logistics, and financial resources.

“WHO has been working side by side with Ghana since the beginning of this outbreak. Our mission here is not just to assess the situation but to listen, learn, and provide practical support where it is most needed,” said Dr. Fiona Braka, WHO Representative in Ghana.

For the Ghana Health Service, the lessons from the Western Region are critical to strengthening the nationwide response.

“With almost half of the cases concentrated here, we must understand what is fueling transmission in the Western Region. The insights we gather will help shape interventions across the country,” noted Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health, GHS.

The joint mission ended on an encouraging note at Essipon Health Centre, where the delegation witnessed first-hand the resilience of patients, families, and frontline health workers. Moving forward, national and international partners reaffirmed their commitment to scaling up case detection, enhancing laboratory capacity, strengthening risk communication, and ensuring care and support for patients and families.

Together, Ghana and its partners are determined to contain the Mpox outbreak and protect communities nationwide.


For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Abdul-Lahie Abdul-Rahim Naa
Communications Officer
WHO Ghana Country Office
Email: abdullahiea@who.int
Tel: +233 20 196 2393