The Ghana Health Service (GHS), with technical and financial support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has completed a five-day national training in Accra to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to prepare for and respond effectively to public health emergencies.
The training brought together representatives from all 16 regions and the national level, alongside key multisectoral institutions, including security and emergency services, One Health institutions and civil society organisations. The broad participation underscored the importance of coordinated action across sectors and levels in managing public health emergencies.
The programme strengthened participants’ knowledge and practical skills in public health emergency management, International Health Regulations (IHR), risk assessment, Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) operations and the Incident Management System (IMS). It also covered incident action planning, information management, operational readiness, resource mobilization and multisectoral coordination, with practical exercises reinforcing decision-making and coordinated action during emergencies.
The training highlighted Ghana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen a functional and connected PHEOC system from the national to the regional level. Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of GHS, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of the Public Health Division, noted that effective PHEOCs require more than infrastructure and equipment. Strong governance, trained personnel, operational plans and procedures, adequate resources and regular testing are equally important for maintaining readiness.
Collaboration across institutions, sectors and levels was another key focus. Dr Ernest Konadu-Asiedu, representing the Ministry of Health, called for stronger intersectoral collaboration and a move away from institutional silos. Dr Lawrence Lartey, Head of the National PHEOC, emphasised the importance of translating PHEOC and IMS knowledge into operational readiness and strengthening coordination between national and subnational levels.
Partners reinforced the importance of sustained capacity development. Dr Matthew Moses of Africa CDC highlighted structured emergency management, simulation exercises and continuous learning, while Dr Sally Anne Ohene of the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasised the importance of strengthening regional capacity for early detection, rapid response and effective coordination.
A key component of the programme was a tabletop simulation exercise, which enabled participants to apply their learning to an evolving public health emergency scenario. The exercise provided practical experience in risk assessment, decision-making and emergency response coordination, while demonstrating the application of PHEOC and IMS arrangements during an emergency.
The programme also benefited from technical support from WHO, facilitation support from the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), and contributions from national and partner facilitators, supporting an interactive and practical approach to learning.
Looking ahead, participants recommended developing, strengthening and disseminating key emergency preparedness and response documents at subnational level, including all-hazards and hazard-specific plans, the PHEOC Handbook and Points of Entry contingency plans. Other priorities included strengthening capacity in simulation exercise planning and management, conducting a national functional exercise, and establishing a structured programme of regular training and exercises to sustain preparedness and operational readiness across the country.
The programme concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening Ghana’s public health emergency preparedness and response system through functional PHEOCs, effective incident management, continuous capacity development and stronger multisectoral coordination, enhancing the country’s ability to detect, assess and respond promptly to public health threats.