Ghana Receives GHC1.6 million from EU for Cholera Relief

The European Union has provided humanitarian aid worth GHC 1.6 million (€100,000) to support communities impacted by Ghana’s cholera outbreak.

The disease has affected 36 districts spanning five regions since October 2024: Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti.

According to the EU’s announcement, the funding will support the Ghana Red Cross Society in delivering essential relief measures, including chlorine for disinfection, handwashing facilities, and public health awareness campaigns.

Despite vaccination efforts, Ghana Health Service data showed 4,850 suspected cases and 35 deaths by December’s end. The outbreak has been attributed to poor hygiene, inadequate sanitation, and drainage problems worsened by heavy rainfall.

The aid will focus on high-risk zones, particularly displacement camps and informal urban settlements. The EU expects the funding to help 150,000 people who face elevated cholera risks due to limited access to clean water and proper sanitation.

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The Ghana Red Cross has been leading response efforts, providing sanitation resources and conducting community outreach. This funding is part of the EU’s wider support to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).

The EU maintains a €14.5 million humanitarian agreement with the IFRC to support DREF operations for smaller-scale disasters that don’t trigger international appeals. As the world’s largest humanitarian aid provider, the EU and its member states deliver emergency assistance through their Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, operating from Brussels with a network of global field offices.

Beyond this humanitarian response, the EU is investing €40 million in Ghana’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities through its Global Gateway initiative.