Desmond Boateng, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Minister of Health, has officially inaugurated the National Viral Hepatitis Technical Working Group as part of renewed efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat with government pledging to integrate prevention, testing and treatment into the Free Primary Health Care Program.

The inauguration took place during this year’s World Hepatitis Day commemoration held under the theme: “Hepatitis: Elimination for Everyone, Everywhere, Right Now.”

The event was chaired by Dr. Hafiz, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Dr. Mark Nwani, and the National Patron for Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Ghana.

Speaking at the ceremony, Desmond Boateng revealed that about 3 million Ghanaians are estimated to be living with hepatitis B while roughly 500,000 may be living with hepatitis C.

“Many do not know their status because the infection can remain silent for years, even as it progressively damages the liver,” the address noted.

Chronic hepatitis B and C are major causes of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. 

Current estimates place liver cancer as the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ghana and the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths. 

Among men, it is the leading cause of cancer mortality.

Only about 1% of people living with hepatitis B in Ghana are estimated to have been diagnosed, and treatment coverage remains very low.

Ghana has made important strides through the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service. 

Key interventions include:

1.   With support from the Government of Egypt and other partners, Ghana has expanded access to free curative treatment for persons diagnosed with hepatitis C.

2.   Government is working to complete the national introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours of life to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

3.   Hepatitis education, risk assessment, screening, vaccination, and referral will be progressively integrated into services at chiefs’ compounds, health centers, polyclinics, and district hospitals.

“The Free Primary Health Care Program provides the platform for moving our health system from treating avoidable complications to preventing disease and detecting it early,” it was stated.

Despite progress, major gaps remain including high cost of testing, limited laboratory capacity, weak surveillance, and sustainable financing.

Government said it will work with the National Health Insurance Authority and other stakeholders to explore financing options that reduce costs to households, and to decentralize services and strengthen referral pathways through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.

The newly inaugurated Technical Working Group has been tasked with supporting the implementation of a costed national elimination plan with clear targets and timelines. 

Its mandate includes advising on the hepatitis B birth dose rollout, expanding affordable diagnostics, and strengthening surveillance.

“Your appointment is not ceremonial. You have been entrusted with helping Ghana move from fragmented interventions to a coordinated, adequately financed, and evidence-led national elimination program,” the group was told.

Ghanaians were urged to know their hepatitis status, get tested, and get vaccinated if eligible.  

“Our goal must be a Ghana where no child acquires hepatitis at birth. No adult develops avoidable liver disease because of late diagnosis, and no family loses a loved one because essential prevention or treatment was beyond its reach,” the statement concluded.

“Let us ensure that vaccination protects every child, primary health care reaches every community, and testing leads to treatment. Together, we can make hepatitis elimination a reality for everyone, everywhere.”