Accra: The Ghana Health Service is working towards integrating Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance into the national disease control strategy, expressing its commitment to collaborating with partners to build robust, responsive, and sustainable systems to support the initiative. Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), announced this at the Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance (WES) Meeting 2026, held in Accra on Tuesday.
According to Ghana News Agency, the meeting, themed 'Harnessing Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance - A One Health and Disease Control Tool,' was organised by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in collaboration with the GHS. It gathered scientists, health experts, and policymakers from Ghana and beyond to explore how wastewater and sewage data could be used to detect diseases early and protect communities.
Dr Akoriyea revealed that Ghana had already employed environmental surveillance approaches, particularly in polio eradication efforts, and was now investigating their application in monitoring other infectious diseases. He identified the WES as a promising tool within the country's public health system, allowing for the early detection of pathogens, often before clinical cases are reported, thus enabling timely interventions.
He highlighted the importance of integrating wastewater data with traditional clinical surveillance systems, though he acknowledged that key priorities remained. Dr Akoriyea stressed the necessity for stronger collaboration across sectors, including health, environment, water and sanitation, academia, and policy, emphasizing that effective implementation relied on a genuine One Health approach.
Dr Akoriyea also called for sustained investment, pointing out that surveillance should not be treated as a short-term project but embedded within national health systems with adequate funding, infrastructure, and skilled personnel. He advocated for sustainable financing to support wastewater and environmental surveillance for polio and other pathogens in Ghana.
'We must leverage innovation, advances in genomics, data science, and artificial intelligence, and ensure that the data generated translates into action,' he said.
Dr Kate Medlicott, Technical Lead for Sanitation and Wastewater at the World Health Organization (WHO), underscored the need for harmonised protocols and standard operating procedures for WES. She noted that while standardisation was crucial, systems should remain adaptable to foster innovation and continuous learning, stressing the significance of data standards and sharing agreements.
Dr Medlicott asserted that the WES should complement existing health systems and urged countries to tailor approaches to their local needs. 'We need to ensure WES is embedded into health systems and strategies, not just as pilot projects, but as part of broader disease control frameworks,' she said.