West Africa Strengthening Health Systems and Security Frameworks Amidst Regional Challenges

Ghana and neighboring Niger are intensifying efforts to address critical health, security, and social welfare challenges through new infrastructure and updated policy frameworks. In a significant boost to correctional healthcare, the Ghana Prisons Service has launched the Prisons Medicine and Equipment Bank Initiative, emphasizing that "prison health is public health." This development coincides with the inauguration of a new surgical theatre at the Madina Polyclinic, a facility that had operated for over five decades without such a resource. These improvements aim to decentralize specialized care and reduce the pressure on major referral hospitals, ensuring that vulnerable populations have immediate access to life-saving procedures and essential medications.

On the security front, Ghana is proactively reviewing its National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism. During a three-day stakeholder engagement in Accra, Brigadier General Timothy Ba-Taa-Banah and the UNDP emphasized the need for vigilance against evolving threats, including disinformation and sophisticated terror financing, particularly as security in neighboring Burkina Faso deteriorates. However, domestic law enforcement has faced recent public scrutiny. In Kumasi, a Special Operations Team was abruptly withdrawn less than 24 hours after a successful anti-crime deployment that saw 19 suspects arrested. Similarly, the Volta Region police were forced to debunk a viral video misrepresenting a narcotics operation in Adaklu that successfully seized 39 sacks of suspected drugs, highlighting the challenges of maintaining public trust in the digital age.

Public health trends in the northern regions have raised alarms, as the Upper East Region recorded 60 maternal deaths in 2025, an increase from 40 the previous year. Regional health director Dr. Braimah Baba Abubakari attributed some of these challenges to the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy conflict, which has hindered healthcare access and staff safety. In contrast, local initiatives in the south are targeting "silent killers"; the Ashaiman Municipality has launched a mass screening campaign for 50,000 residents to detect non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Stakeholders are also calling for sustained investment to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as leprosy and elephantiasis, advocating for a whole-of-society approach to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Broader social protection and international cooperation remain central to the regional agenda. Challenging Heights recently rescued 22 children from forced labor in fishing communities, bringing their 20-year total to nearly 2,900 rescues and highlighting a growing trend of cross-border trafficking from Nigeria. On the global stage, First Lady Lordina Dramani Mahama joined international leaders in Washington D.C. to advocate for child safety in the digital era, while Niger celebrated the 50th anniversary of its medical partnership with China, which has seen over 1.7 million patients treated since 1976. Despite these strides, the region continues to mourn tragic losses, including a fatal police vehicle crash on Aseseso Hill and a heart-wrenching aircraft accident in Tema that claimed the lives of two aspiring pilots.