The European Union (EU) has pledged €100,000 (GHC 1.6 million) in humanitarian assistance to support Ghana in its fight against the ongoing cholera outbreak, which has been spreading since October 2024.
The outbreak has now affected 36 districts across regions such as Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti. In response, the EU’s financial support will enable the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) to deliver critical supplies, including chlorine for disinfecting water sources, handwashing stations, and essential public health education initiatives.
As of December 2024, the Ghana Health Service reported 4,850 suspected cholera cases and 35 deaths, despite ongoing vaccination campaigns. The situation has been worsened by poor sanitation, hygiene challenges, and heavy rains that have aggravated drainage problems in affected areas.
The EU’s aid will focus on high-risk regions, particularly displacement camps and informal settlements, where access to clean water and sanitation remains limited. The initiative is expected to directly benefit around 150,000 people who are at heightened risk of cholera transmission.
This contribution forms part of the EU’s broader engagement with the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) managed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Through a €14.5 million humanitarian agreement with the IFRC, the EU supports small-scale disaster responses that do not require formal international appeals.
As one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid contributors, the EU, through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, provides assistance to millions affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Additionally, under its Global Gateway initiative, the EU is investing €40 million to help develop vaccine manufacturing in Ghana.
SOURCE: GNA
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