(DDM) — The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued a stern warning to Port Health officials, cautioning that anyone found engaging in illicit activities at the country’s entry points will face sanctions and prosecution, announced during the Port Health Annual General Meeting in Accra on December 13, 2025.
Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the GHS, stated that illegal practices, including taking bribes, selling forged health documents, and facilitating unauthorized movement of travelers and goods, pose serious risks to national health security, particularly during disease outbreaks.
Addressing staff, Dr. Akoriyea emphasized that epidemics and pandemics do not discriminate based on nationality, political affiliation, or geography, and lapses at entry points endanger not only the public but also the officials who permit such breaches.
He recounted an incident at Kotoka International Airport where a Port Health officer attempted to sell him a yellow fever vaccination certificate and backdate it, unaware of his identity. He stressed that such practices are unacceptable and would no longer be tolerated.
“Whenever we run into epidemics – our regular meningitis, cholera, or COVID-19 – the disease will not ask where you come from or which party you belong to. It is you who decides whether the disease will cross the border by allowing the person in or not,” Dr. Akoriyea warned.
The Director-General also highlighted other misconduct, including irregularities in handling human remains and clearing expired goods, noting that such actions tarnish the reputation of the GHS and professional groups operating at Points of Entry (PoEs).
Dr. Akoriyea revealed that many officials were signing documents they were not authorized to sign, a practice that would now be strictly regulated. “We will identify who is qualified to sign what, and we will ensure people do not crisscross into roles they do not belong to,” he said.
He called for unity and commitment across the Service to restore discipline, strengthen operational systems, and prevent the recurrence of longstanding challenges.
Port Health operations, previously a unit and later a department under the GHS, are now headed by Dr. Alphonsus Nindow, the newly appointed Deputy Director.
The mandate of Port Health is to prevent, detect, notify, respond to, and contain diseases, conditions, and events of public health concern, while improving environmental health services at PoEs through collaboration with security and other agencies.
Statistics from the GHS indicate that Ghana has 51 approved and gazetted Points of Entry, including Kotoka International Airport, Paga PoE, and the Tema and Takoradi Ports, alongside 61 unapproved PoEs currently manned by security officials.
Dr. Akoriyea concluded by urging all officials to comply with regulations, maintain professional integrity, and prioritize public health safety over personal gain, warning that future breaches would be dealt with by both security services and the GHS code of conduct.
