The Minister for Health has confirmed that 107 out of 316 suspected cases reported at the University of Ghana have tested positive for COVID-19.
Delivering a statement in Parliament on Monday, July 1, the Minister assured the public that the outbreak remains contained within the university community and has not spread to the wider Accra area or the rest of the country.
“As of today, 1st July, we have 316 suspected cases. 107 of those cases have been confirmed as COVID-19. There are no hospitalisations and, importantly, no deaths,” the Minister told the House. He emphasised that all confirmed cases are recovering well, and there is no cause for alarm.
According to the Minister, investigations by a national team identified the recent Hall Week celebrations at the University as the key driver behind the spike in cases. “These events brought large crowds together, with little use of face masks or distancing,” he explained, adding that a decline in adherence to safety protocols and difficulties with contact tracing also contributed to the spread.
Once signs of the outbreak emerged, the government responded swiftly. “We sent a national team to work with university and municipal health authorities, held meetings with the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, the heads of Noguchi, and the School of Public Health,” the Minister said.
In addition, health alerts were issued nationwide, Hall Week activities were suspended, and a campus-wide education campaign was rolled out using posters, campus radio, and student leaders to raise awareness.
He said government efforts are continuing with more support being provided to Legon Hospital and the Student Clinic. “We are preparing the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre to handle severe cases—if any occur,” he said, adding that authorities are also holding face-to-face sessions with student bodies and faculty, providing additional PPE and training for frontline health workers, and enhancing data tracking and case mapping.
Seeking to calm public fears, the Minister reminded Ghanaians that this is not a new variant. “I want to assure Ghanaians that this is not a new virus, and we are not back to 2020,” he stressed. “This Omicron variant has been with us before. It spreads fast, yes—but it is mostly mild. And we know how to manage it.”
The Minister urged the public, especially students, to remain vigilant and observe the necessary safety protocols as testing and monitoring continue across all affected areas.
