Ghana Health Service says Ghana has recorded a major decline in malaria deaths over the past decade, although transmission remains a challenge.
The National Malaria Elimination Programme reports that deaths dropped from about 3,300 in 2011 to 52 in 2025 — a reduction of more than 98 per cent.
Speaking ahead of World Malaria Day, Deputy Programme Manager Nana Yaw Peprah said improved diagnosis and treatment have driven the progress. Inpatient death rates also declined from 0.21 per 1,000 population in 2024 to 0.15 in 2025.
Despite this, infections remain high. In 2024, Ghana recorded about 4.3 million confirmed cases out of more than 12 million suspected cases. Testing rates have reached nearly 99 per cent, but fewer than half of suspected cases are confirmed.
Malaria risk has fallen from 28 per cent in 2011 to about 8.6 per cent, with Greater Accra Region recording the lowest transmission at around two per cent. Children under five and pregnant women remain the most affected.
Preventive measures show mixed progress. About 89 per cent of pregnant women received at least one preventive dose, while seasonal malaria prevention reached about 92 per cent of targeted children. Vaccine uptake stands at roughly 75 per cent for initial doses, dropping to about 60 per cent for later doses.
Ghana has also achieved about 87 per cent coverage for insecticide-treated nets and 85 per cent for continuous distribution through health facilities and schools.
However, funding gaps continue to limit key interventions, including indoor spraying and expanded prevention programmes. New strategies, such as treatment for schoolchildren and targeted drug administration, are yet to be fully implemented nationwide.
Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe warned that low use of mosquito nets and funding constraints could slow progress. He added that malaria still imposes significant economic costs through lost productivity and healthcare expenses.
Ghana aims to reduce malaria deaths by 90 per cent and cut cases by half between 2024 and 2028, targeting 21 low-transmission districts for elimination efforts.
