By Collins Sarkodieh 
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared that the final stretch of malaria elimination depends heavily on private sector investment and multi-sectoral collaboration.
At a high-level briefing in Accra today, officials revealed that while Ghana has slashed malaria transmission from 28% in 2011 to just 8.6% in 2025, a significant funding gap remains that only domestic private partnerships can fill.
Eliminating a disease that has plagued the nation for centuries is no longer a pipe dream but a documented strategic goal. With the 2026 World Malaria Day theme, “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,” the GHS is pivoting from “controlling” the disease to “eliminating” it entirely. This transition requires more than just mosquito nets; it demands advanced vector control, larval source management, and a massive infusion of capital into the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to reach the 2028 target.
Why is private sector collaboration the “missing piece” in Ghana’s malaria fight?
Private sector involvement is critical because it provides the sustainable, domestic financing needed to bridge resource gaps that international donor funding cannot always cover. Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of the Public Health Division, noted that while global partners have been instrumental, the final push toward zero cases requires Ghanaian businesses to invest in the health of their workforce and communities.
Malaria isn’t just a health issue; it is a massive economic drain that costs African businesses billions in lost productivity and absenteeism every year. By investing in malaria elimination, the private sector is essentially protecting its bottom line. Companies in mining, agribusiness, and manufacturing are being urged to integrate malaria interventions into their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portfolios, ensuring that the environments where their employees live and work are mosquito-free zones.
What are the latest statistics on malaria reduction in Ghana?
Ghana has achieved one of the most dramatic declines in malaria mortality in West Africa, with deaths dropping from 3,300 in 2011 to just 52 by the end of 2025. According to Dr. Nana Yaw Peprah, Deputy Programme Manager of the NMEP, the prevalence of the parasite in the population has also plummeted from 28% to 8.6% over the same period.
These figures represent a 98% reduction in deaths, a feat achieved through the rigorous distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and the expansion of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC). However, the GHS warns that these gains are fragile. Without the 2028 goal of a 90% reduction in mortality and a 50% reduction in parasite incidence, the risk of a “rebound” remains high, especially in districts where transmission remains stubborn.
How does the 2028 Malaria Elimination Plan specifically target high-burden districts?
The GHS has identified 21 high-transmission districts that will serve as the primary “battleground” for the transition from control to elimination by 2028. These districts are receiving a “heavy artillery” approach, combining indoor residual spraying (IRS), larval source management, and enhanced testing and treatment services to break the cycle of transmission.
In these selected areas, the strategy shifts from general prevention to “active case detection,” where health workers don’t just wait for patients to come to the clinic but actively seek out and treat asymptomatic carriers in the community. By “starving” the mosquitoes of the parasite, the NMEP aims to create malaria-free bubbles that will eventually merge to cover the entire country. This targeted approach is more resource-intensive, which is why the GHS is calling for increased domestic financing.
What is “Larval Source Management” and why is it a game-changer?
Larval Source Management (LSM) involves treating or eliminating the stagnant water bodies where mosquitoes breed before they ever reach the flying, biting adult stage. Unlike bed nets, which protect individuals while they sleep, LSM protects entire neighborhoods by reducing the overall mosquito population density.
LSM is particularly effective in urban and peri-urban areas where drainage issues create perfect breeding grounds. The GHS is encouraging local government authorities and private estate developers to collaborate on better drainage and bio-larviciding programs. When you kill the larvae, you stop the disease at the source, making it one of the most cost-effective long-term interventions for malaria elimination.
Why are children under five and pregnant women still the most vulnerable?
Malaria continues to disproportionately affect children under five and pregnant women because their immune systems are either still developing or are naturally suppressed during pregnancy. Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriye, Director-General of the GHS, emphasized that these groups remain the “primary focus” of all national interventions to ensure that the mortality rate reaches zero.
In pregnant women, malaria can lead to severe anemia, low birth weight, and maternal death, while in young children, it is a leading cause of school absenteeism and developmental delays. The 2026 World Malaria Day activities, including the national durbar on Saturday, April 25, will heavily feature advocacy for intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and the scale-up of the malaria vaccine, which has already shown promising results in various regions across Ghana.
What activities are planned for World Malaria Day 2026 in Ghana?
World Malaria Day 2026 will be marked by a series of nationwide activities designed to mobilize the youth and engage digital advocates under the banner of “Digital Advocacy & Youth Engagement.” The schedule includes media tours, stakeholder dialogues, a massive health walk, and a national durbar on Saturday, April 25.
The GHS is leaning heavily into digital spaces this year, recognizing that the “Gen Z” and “Millennial” populations are the most effective messengers for health behavior change. By using social media influencers and digital storytellers, the NMEP aims to debunk myths about malaria and promote the consistent use of treated nets. The national durbar will serve as the formal platform for the government to renew its 2028 elimination pledge in the presence of traditional leaders and international diplomats.
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How does “Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention” (SMC) work in the North?
Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) involves the intermittent administration of a full course of antimalarial medicine to children during the peak transmission season (the rainy season). In the northern parts of Ghana, where malaria is highly seasonal, SMC has been credited with preventing thousands of cases of severe malaria and keeping children in school.
This intervention is a logistical feat, requiring thousands of volunteers to go door-to-door to ensure every eligible child receives their dose. The success of SMC in the North is now being evaluated for potential expansion into other regions with similar transmission patterns. It is a prime example of a “sustained intervention” that requires consistent funding to maintain the high coverage levels necessary to be effective.
Can Ghana truly eliminate malaria by 2028 without a cure?
Elimination does not require a “miracle cure”; it requires the perfect execution of existing tools like vaccines, nets, and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). While a 100% cure-all vaccine is still in development, the current R21 and RTS,S vaccines are providing a significant “shield” that, when combined with vector control, makes the 2028 goal scientifically feasible.
The real challenge to elimination is not biological but financial and logistical. If Ghana can maintain its 98% mortality reduction and further suppress the parasite incidence in the 21 target districts, the country can join the ranks of nations like Mauritius and Algeria that have been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). The GHS is confident that with “Now We Can. Now We Must” as the guiding principle, the end of malaria is within sight.
What role does “Indoor Residual Spraying” (IRS) play in the 2026 strategy?
Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) involves coating the walls and ceilings of houses with an insecticide that kills mosquitoes when they land after a blood meal. Unlike household bug sprays, the specialized chemicals used in IRS remain effective for several months, providing continuous protection to everyone inside the home.
The GHS and its partners have successfully implemented IRS in several mining and farming communities, often with the support of private companies like AngloGold Ashanti. This is a perfect example of the “private sector collaboration” the GHS is calling for. When a company funds IRS for its host community, it drastically reduces the local malaria burden, creating a healthier environment for its employees and their families.
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