Ghana to Roll Out Nationwide HPV Vaccination in September 2025 to Combat Cervical Cancer

By Mavis Emefa Goka / June 23, 2025

Ghana will introduce the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide in September 2025 as part of a major public health campaign to prevent cervical cancer among women. The vaccine will be administered to girls aged 9 to 14 years and is being integrated into the country’s routine national immunisation programme.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with education sector stakeholders, held a strategic engagement yesterday to outline implementation plans and mobilize support for a successful rollout.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the GHS, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, underscored the national importance of the initiative.

“This campaign is not just about vaccination—it’s about protecting the future of Ghanaian women,” Prof. Akoriyea said. “We introduced the HPV vaccine in selected regions—Greater Accra, Central, and Northern—as early as 2013, and after 12 years of effective and safe implementation, we are confident and ready to scale up.”

He further assured the public of the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
“HPV vaccines are safe and well-tolerated. Our Food and Drugs Authority has done its due diligence. Today, Ghana proudly joins 144 WHO member states in taking this bold step to safeguard our girls,” he stated.

Prof. Akoriyea emphasized that the vaccine will be provided free of charge by the government, reinforcing its commitment to equitable healthcare access.

In a show of international support, UNICEF Ghana’s Chief of Health and Nutrition, Dr. Manuel Dewez, praised the country’s readiness and revealed that the first consignment of HPV vaccines had already arrived.

“We are pleased to confirm that Ghana has received its initial supply of HPV vaccines, with an additional 2.5 million doses expected in the coming months,” Dr. Dewez said.

 “Cross-sectoral collaboration is key, and we must work together to address logistical and financial challenges to make this a success.”

Dr. Nazir Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, provided a technical overview of the campaign. He revealed that cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Ghana, with more than 2,800 new cases annually.

“We are adopting a single-dose regimen based on the latest global evidence,” Dr. Tanko explained. “Vaccines will be administered through school-based and community outreach approaches, allowing us to reach over 2.5 million girls nationwide.”

The stakeholder engagement ended with a strong call to action, urging educators, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the media to help drive the campaign forward through sensitization, pre-registration of eligible girls, and community mobilization.

“This is a shared responsibility,” Prof. Akoriyea concluded. “Together, we can eliminate cervical cancer in Ghana and ensure a healthier future for our girls.”