Ghana has cut malaria deaths by over 98% in 14 years, with prevalence falling from 27.5% in 2011 to 8.6% in 2022 and deaths dropping from 3,259 in 2011 to just 52 in 2025, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

Director-General of the GHS, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, disclosed the figures during a press briefing held to update the public on two major interventions: the ongoing school-based distribution of insecticide-treated nets and the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention campaign.

“These achievements reflect sustained investment, strong partnership, and commitment of health workers and communities across the country,” Prof. Akoriyea said.

Ghana’s malaria strategy combines prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment through ITNs, vaccination, preventive treatment in pregnancy, SMC, indoor spraying, and surveillance.

ITNs are distributed through: 

1. Mass campaigns – households are registered and receive nets

2. Continuous distribution – targeting pregnant women at antenatal care, people living with HIV/TB, and children at 18 months during child welfare clinics

3. School-based distribution – Class 2 and Class 6 pupils receive nets through schools for their households

Prof. Akoriyea said the school model was chosen because “schools give us a structured, reliable, equitable way to reach children directly.” In partnership with the Ghana Education Service, it ensures every child “has the opportunity to sleep protected from malaria every single night,” while also extending protection to entire households.

Next-Generation Nets Against Resistant Mosquitoes 

The current distribution includes WHO-prequalified dual active ingredient nets like Interceptor G2. Unlike standard nets, these combine a pyrethroid with a second insecticide, chlorfenapyr, to tackle mosquitoes resistant to pyrethroids.

“Every net has a traceable supply chain… passed quality assurance checks. No net is distributed without prior regulatory clearance,” he stressed, thanking teachers, health teams, and partners for their work.

The 2026 SMC campaign is underway in seven regions: Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah, Bono East, and Oti. It targets children aged 3 to 59 months during peak malaria season.

Children receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine + amodiaquine once a month for 4-5 months starting at the rains. Cycle 1 has been completed in Upper West, Upper East, North East, and Oti, reaching thousands of children.

Cycle 1 for Northern, Savannah, and Bono East is set for July 2-5, 2026.

“SMC remains one of our most effective malaria prevention interventions, reducing malaria episodes among young children by up to 75% when all treatment cycles are completed,” Prof. Akoriyea said.

He urged caregivers to welcome community health volunteers: “The medicines are free, and I repeat, the medicines are free, safe, and effective. Completing every monthly cycle provides the best protection.”

The GHS Director-General reaffirmed that ITNs and SMC are “safe, effective, and evidence-based interventions that are saving lives.” He was joined at the briefing by the Food and Drugs Authority, EPA, and Ghana Education Service for regulatory assurance.

“Together, we can protect the gains we have made and accelerate Ghana’s journey towards a malaria-free future,” he concluded.