The European Union (EU) has allocated GHC 1.6 million (€100,000) in humanitarian assistance to support Ghana’s response to a widespread cholera outbreak.
The outbreak, which began in October 2024, has affected 36 districts across Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti regions, with the Ghana Health Service reporting 4,850 suspected cases and 35 deaths by the end of December 2024.
The funding aims to strengthen relief efforts led by the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) to curb the disease’s spread.
According to an EU press release, the financial assistance will be directed toward essential interventions such as chlorine distribution for disinfection, the installation of handwashing stations, and intensive public health education campaigns.
The outbreak has been linked to poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene practices, and heavy rains that have worsened drainage conditions, creating an urgent need for targeted relief in high-risk areas, including displacement camps and informal settlements.
The EU estimates that approximately 150,000 individuals at heightened risk of infection will benefit from these interventions.
The support is part of the EU’s broader humanitarian strategy, including its contribution to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).
Under a €14.5 million agreement, the EU aids small-scale disasters that do not trigger formal international appeals. Additionally, the EU continues to support Ghana’s long-term health resilience by investing €40 million in vaccine manufacturing under the Global Gateway flagship initiative.
With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU remains one of the world’s leading providers of humanitarian aid, responding to crises based on need rather than political considerations.
