Ghana

N4H Ghana addresses upstream drivers of zoonotic spillover through a One Health approach.

Ghana is a hotspot for zoonotic diseases with many endemic and emerging pathogens being reported in livestock, wildlife, and humans, including Marburg virus, Lassa fever, Rabies, Anthrax, Brucellosis, and other zoonotic microorganisms. Avian influenza is fast becoming endemic causing huge financial loss to the poultry industry. Human activities, compounded by natural events have put Ghana’s biodiversity under serious threat. Recent changes in land use and agricultural production systems, natural resource extraction (e.g., wildlife and rosewood harvest, mining, timber logging) and an expansion of livestock production into wildlife habitats is altering ecosystems and likely increasing the risk of zoonotic spillover. While Ghana contributes relatively little to climate change, several climate shocks threaten the country, including rising temperatures, less predictable rainfall, drought, and flooding which are expected to influence the distribution and patterns of infectious diseases as well as human and animal movement.

Aligned with the global objectives of N4H, Nature for Health Ghana works with human, animal, and environmental health experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders to co-develop integrated and coordinated policies, generate and disseminate evidence on links between biodiversity, climate and health, and support decision makers and other key actors to take preventive measures. N4H Ghana is led by a multi-sector Core Team of representatives from the University of Ghana, Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission, Veterinary Services Directorate, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, National Disaster Management Organisation, and Public Health Directorate of Ghana Health Service with support from EcoHealth Alliance as the global convening partner.

Following Ghana’s expression of interest and selection as a N4H phase one country, the N4H Ghana team conducted a systemic inquiry between January – June 2024 across four regions of Ghana to understand zoonotic spillover risks, and their drivers. The scoping process also identified concrete ‘upstream’ or primary prevention interventions to tackle root causes of disease emergence at the environment-health interface. Findings from the systemic inquiry have been developed into a 3-year Implementation Project Document (IPD) outlining how N4H Ghana will reduce spillover risk by employing preventative One Health approaches aligned with local and national priorities. The IPD will address five key areas of

awareness creation, sensitisation and advocacy,

surveillance and risk assessment,
risk reduction policies and guidelines,
One Health coordination and information sharing, and
monitoring, evaluation, learning, and outreach.

Collectively, these areas of work will generate and disseminate evidence on the links among biodiversity, climate, and health and support decision-makers and other stakeholders to take preventative measures for disease risk reduction that mutually support the protection of biodiversity.

Convening Partner

EcoHealth Alliance believes a world without pandemics is possible through a One Health approach that recognizes human, animal, and environmental health are interrelated parts of a whole.
Established in 1971, EcoHealth Alliance is a global non-profit organization that uses rigorous and groundbreaking science to protect wildlife while safeguarding human health. Bringing together interdisciplinary teams of scientists and scholars—from molecular biologists to field veterinarians, from bioinformaticians to behavioral risk specialists—EcoHealth Alliance is working to identify areas where human activity has increased the risk of zoonotic disease spillover, and the interventions necessary to prevent it.

Country Partners

University of Ghana (UG) is a leading university, research institute, and learning centre in Ghana. Nature for Health is coordinated locally by The School of Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with Ghanaian government and NGO partners.
Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) formulates policies and accelerates social development through appropriate environmentally friendly scientific and technological practices and techniques.
Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture ensures the health of animals and enhances productivity through the provision of quality animal health care and veterinary services. It supports public health by controlling animal and zoonotic diseases.
National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) promotes disaster risk reduction and climate change risk management through awareness creation and post emergency assistance. NADMO is the chair of Ghana’s National One Health Coordination Body.
Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission (FC) is responsible for conserving all wildlife in Ghana and sustainably managing protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries for the socioeconomic benefit of all.
Public Health Directorate of Ghana Health Service (GHS) leads the development and implementation of policies and strategic plans and programmes that protect, promote and improve public health, including disease prevention, detection, and control.