The Ministry of Health has warned of a potential cholera outbreak following recent flooding, cautioning that poor sanitation practices during heavy rains could significantly increase the spread of waterborne diseases across affected communities.
Spokesperson for the Ministry, Tony Goodman in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, June 29, 2026, said health authorities had already begun public education campaigns before the rains, stressing that flooding conditions often create a high-risk environment for cholera transmission if proper hygiene measures are not observed.
“You know, even before the rain started, we had begun giving this information out, letting the people know that when we are flat, what follows is cholera,” he said.
He warned that some residents continue to dump waste into water bodies during floods, a practice he described as dangerous and a major driver of disease outbreaks.
“We need to stop throwing garbage into our water bodies. But whenever there is a flood, that is when people think they can empty their dustbins and the rest,” he added.
Mr Goodman said the Ghana Health Service has also begun sending alerts to districts to monitor early symptoms of cholera as part of emergency preparedness efforts.
He said cholera surveillance and response planning are now routine components of seasonal health planning, especially during the rainy season.
“We prepare for it. If it’s a wet season, rainy season, we prepare for cholera. We are endemic,” he stated.
The Ministry says it continues to intensify public health messaging as flooding persists in parts of the country.
