Following the cholera outbreak that began in October 2024, impacting five key regions of Ghana (Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti), the European Union (EU) is providing GHȼ1.6 million (€100,000) in humanitarian funding to assist the most affected communities.
This EU funding supports the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) in delivering crucial relief assistance, including chlorine for disinfection, handwashing devices, and public health education through trained volunteers.
Interventions are prioritised in high-risk areas such as displacement camps and informal settlements on the urban periphery.
The humanitarian aid will directly benefit 150,000 individuals who are at high risk of cholera transmission due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
In October 2024, the Ghana Health Service reported a cholera outbreak that spread to 36 districts across five regions. By the end of December, there were 4,850 suspected cases and 35 deaths, despite ongoing vaccination efforts.
The outbreak’s primary drivers include poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation, coupled with recent heavy rains exacerbating drainage issues. The Ghana Red Cross has been pivotal in the response, providing sanitation resources and conducting community engagement to curb the outbreak’s spread.
