Health Minister confirms 107 COVID-19 cases at University of Ghana.
Ghana’s fight against COVID-19 has been reignited following the confirmation of 107 cases at the University of Ghana, Legon. The outbreak, traced to hall week festivities, has prompted swift action from health authorities to contain further spread within the academic community.
Damian Owusu 
Ghana’s fight against COVID-19 has been reignited following the confirmation of 107 cases at the University of Ghana, Legon. The outbreak, traced to hall week festivities, has prompted swift action from health authorities to contain further spread within the academic community.
Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh disclosed in Parliament on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, that the infections were uncovered following targeted surveillance on campus. Of 316 samples collected, 107 tested positive, most linked to a new Omicron sub-variant. “This is currently a localized outbreak within the University of Ghana community,” the Minister clarified, emphasizing that no hospitalizations or deaths have been recorded.
Investigations reveal that mass gatherings during recent hall week events significantly contributed to the outbreak. Lapses in mask usage, crowd control, and adherence to safety protocols created ideal conditions for viral transmission.
In response, the university has suspended all hall week activities until further notice.
The Ministry of Health has activated a multilayered response, which includes:
Deployment of a national response team to coordinate containment efforts
Intensified public education campaigns on campus
Enhanced symptom surveillance, especially with the concurrent rise in influenza cases
Alerts issued to health facilities nationwide to boost detection and reporting
Though Ghana has ceased routine COVID-19 vaccinations, oral antiviral treatments like Paxlovid remain available for high-risk individuals. The outbreak was flagged early thanks to the country’s integrated respiratory virus surveillance system, which monitors influenza-like illnesses in collaboration with the WHO and other partners.
The Minister has urged students and the public to adhere to handwashing, mask-wearing, and early reporting of flu-like symptoms. He stressed that while “COVID-19 may have receded from headlines, it has not disappeared.”
