Fiona Braka, Ghana country director for the World Health Organization, speaks during an event marking World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

ACCRA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day.

In a speech delivered on behalf of GHS Director-General Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Asiedu-Bekoe said Ghana reduced malaria prevalence to 8.6 percent in 2022, down from 27.5 percent in 2011.

"Our children's mortality rate has fallen by 76 percent in two years alone, and malaria vaccines are protecting Ghanaian children through routine immunization," he said, adding that the West African country has achieved first-dose coverage of 78.3 percent for two malaria vaccines.

He noted that eliminating malaria could restore 427.7 million U.S. dollars in annual productivity losses to Ghana.

Fiona Braka, Ghana country director for the World Health Organization, lauded the government's efforts to combat malaria and protect children in particular from the risk of death.

"Five key priorities are essential in the fight against malaria: countries must continue to lead the response with strong national ownership; strategic intelligence must guide action; innovation must be accelerated equitably at scale; primary health care must be strengthened; and, finally, ending malaria requires a whole-of-society effort," she said. ■

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe (L), director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), speaks during an event marking World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Asiedu-Bekoe made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

A man receives a free malaria test at an event marking World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)

People participate in a health walk to raise awareness against malaria during World Malaria Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 25, 2026. Ghana has reduced malaria deaths by 98 percent, from 3,259 in 2011 to 52 in 2025, a health official said on Saturday.

Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, director of public health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), made the remarks at an event marking the 2026 World Malaria Day. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)