Accra, April 23, – Ghana has recorded a dramatic decline in malaria-related deaths over the past decade, even as the disease continues to register high infection rates nationwide, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed.
The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) said malaria deaths have dropped from about 3,300 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, marking a reduction of over 98 per cent and one of the country’s most significant public health achievements.
Dr Nana Yaw Peprah, Deputy Programme Manager of the NMEP, said this at a press briefing in Accra ahead of World Malaria Day, noting that improved diagnosis, treatment and case management have driven the sharp fall in fatalities.
He added that inpatient malaria deaths also declined, falling from 0.21 per 1,000 population in 2024 to 0.15 in 2025.
Despite the progress, he cautioned that malaria transmission remains widespread.
Ghana recorded about 4.3 million confirmed cases in 2024 out of more than 12 million suspected cases, underscoring continued high burden of infection.
Dr Peprah noted that although testing rates in health facilities have reached nearly 99 per cent, fewer than half of suspected cases are confirmed as malaria, suggesting frequent misdiagnosis of fever cases.
Programme data indicate that national malaria risk has fallen from 28 per cent in 2011 to about 8.6 per cent currently, with regional disparities still evident. Greater Accra records the lowest transmission levels at about two per cent, while other regions continue to experience higher prevalence.
Children under five and pregnant women remain the most at-risk groups.
About 89 per cent of pregnant women received at least one dose of preventive treatment, although completion of required doses remains a challenge. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention coverage reached about 92 per cent among targeted children, with most completing full courses.
Malaria vaccine uptake currently stands at about 75 per cent for initial doses, declining to around 60 per cent for subsequent doses.
Vector control efforts have also improved, with Ghana achieving 87 per cent of its insecticide-treated net distribution target and 85 per cent coverage through continuous distribution channels.
However, Dr Peprah said funding constraints are limiting expansion of interventions such as indoor residual spraying and preventive treatment programmes.
He added that new strategies, including school-based preventive treatment and mass drug administration in low-transmission areas, are yet to be fully scaled nationwide.
The country has now classified all districts by malaria burden and identified 21 low-transmission districts targeted for elimination between 2024 and 2028, with a goal of reducing malaria mortality by 90 per cent and cutting incidence by 50 per cent.
Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of the Public Health Division of the GHS, warned that weak funding and poor community compliance could slow progress.
He cited low consistent use of insecticide-treated nets as a persistent challenge despite widespread distribution.
He stressed that malaria continues to impose heavy economic costs through lost productivity and healthcare spending, adding that “every malaria death is preventable.”
World Malaria Day is observed on April 25, with this year’s theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.”
Activities planned include media campaigns, youth outreach, digital advocacy, stakeholder engagements, a health walk, and a national durbar.
GHBUSS
23 April 2026
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