The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reaffirmed that COVID-19 remains present in the country and has never been eradicated since its initial outbreak in 2020.

The Service has urged the public not to downplay the existence of the virus, as new cases have recently emerged, particularly within the University of Ghana community.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 26, Director of Public Health at the GHS, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, emphasized that the virus continues to circulate at low levels across the country and was never declared eliminated.

“COVID never left. COVID has been with us since 2020. Somewhere last year, the Director-General of

WHO said that COVID is no longer an issue of emergency; we never said COVID is gone. If it were gone, WHO would declare an end to the pandemic,” he stated.

Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe noted that Ghana’s surveillance systems remain active and have consistently picked up new cases. He explained that the recent infections recorded at the University of Ghana appear to have spread during a hall week celebration on campus.

“There was this hall week celebration, and because we had a cluster of students, one of whom had the virus, it caused the spread. But I want to put it in context that COVID never left, and this is not the first time we are recording new cases. We’ve seen infections over the past weeks and months,” he said.

He urged the public—especially institutions—to revisit established COVID-19 safety protocols as a preventive measure and endorsed the University of Ghana’s decision to suspend social events.

He described the university’s move as “an idea to prevent the spread of the virus.”

The University of Ghana on Monday, June 23, confirmed a resurgence of COVID-19 cases on campus and advised students and staff to take immediate precautions. In response, the university’s health directorate issued a directive on Thursday, June 26, suspending all social gatherings to help contain the spread.

The statement indicated that both suspected and confirmed cases had been identified, prompting a reactivation of internal health measures and enhanced monitoring.

Health officials are urging calm while reiterating the importance of hand hygiene, mask-wearing in crowded settings, and early reporting of symptoms. By:Patricia Boakye