Ghana plans to launch a nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in September 2025, targeting girls aged 9 to 14, in a bid to prevent cervical cancer, according to the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Prof Samuel Kaba Akoriyea.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement with partners from the education sector, Prof Akoriyea confirmed that the vaccine will be incorporated into Ghana’s routine national immunisation programme and administered free of charge.
“HPV vaccines are safe and well-tolerated. Our Food and Drugs Authority has done its due diligence, and today, Ghana joins 144 WHO member states in taking this bold step to protect our girls,” he said.
As reported by graphiconline.com on June 22, 2025, Ghana first introduced the HPV vaccine in 2013 through a pilot project conducted in the Greater Accra, Central, and Northern regions. After over a decade of lessons and improvements, the GHS believes the country is now prepared for full-scale implementation.
Dr Nazir Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, outlined the delivery strategy, explaining that the vaccine will be given as a single dose through school-based campaigns and community outreach efforts.
“Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana. Each year, we record more than 2,800 new cases,” Dr Mohammed stated.
The rollout is projected to reach over 2.5 million girls nationwide.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Ghana’s Chief of Health and Nutrition, Dr Manuel Dewez, confirmed that Ghana has already received its first shipment of HPV vaccines, with an additional 2.5 million doses expected in the coming months.
Dr Dewez emphasised the importance of collaboration across sectors to address logistical bottlenecks and funding gaps that could hinder successful implementation.
The Ghana Health Service has called on the public to support awareness campaigns, facilitate pre-registration of eligible girls, and help foster a supportive environment for the programme’s success.
