Ada East, Ghana, 25 February 2025 – In response to a growing cholera outbreak in Ghana, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service launched an emergency “Rapid Cholera Response” intervention to protect vulnerable communities, who are affected by climate change and migration-related challenges in the Ada East District.

The Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region is situated along a major migration route, the Lagos-Abidjan corridor. This corridor facilitates significant human movement, spanning approximately 1,028 kilometers across five countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. As key transit points for traders, fishermen, and seasonal workers, communities along this route have a heightened risk of disease transmission, necessitating the need for targeted interventions.

Speaking on IOM’s “Rapid Cholera Response” initiative, IOM Migration Health Physician, Dr. Janice Lovi, emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated approach: “Disease outbreaks disproportionately affect mobile and climate-vulnerable populations, requiring tailored interventions. Through this project, we worked closely with national health authorities to provide immediate relief and long-term resilience strategies, making sure no migrant is left behind.”

The cholera outbreak has placed immense pressure on public health infrastructure with 231 suspected cases recorded across Ghana in September 2024, the first one being in Totopey, a community in Ada East. IOM’s intervention aimed to strengthen disease surveillance, improve sanitation, and promote community awareness to curb the spread of the disease.

The Disease Control Officer in the Ada East District, Mr. Anderson Obeng-Amoako, highlighted the importance of the interventions: “These activities were truly impactful and benefited the entire district. Despite the challenges posed by the cholera outbreak in Ada East, the community has seen positive impacts from the response efforts. The intervention has not only helped identify and manage cases more effectively but has also fostered a sense of community resilience and cooperation.”

In collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health, IOM’s initiative focused on three key areas: 1) Strengthening Disease Surveillance – Conducting population mobility mapping, training community health workers in event-based surveillance, and deploying them  to monitor and report cases in affected districts; 2) Improving Sanitation and Hygiene - Distributing WASH items including soap, bleach, detergents, and water purification tablets and; 3) Community Engagement and Awareness – Broadcasting cholera prevention messages via information vans and Radio Ada, distributing hygiene information materials, and conducting house-to-house and public education campaigns. Additionally, mobile tablets were donated to the Ada East District health directorate to enhance disease surveillance by community health nurses, supporting effective monitoring and response to disease outbreaks.

Reflecting on the project's impact, the Stool King of the Totopey community, Nene Ruben Teye Ocansey, noted: “The response to the outbreak has made our community healthier and stronger today because of the emphasis on clean water, proper waste management, and handwashing. We're grateful for the support that made this possible."

Through the “Rapid Cholera Response” project, funded by IOM's Rapid Response Mechanism and with support from partners including the Ghana Health Service, and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), IOM is committed to ensuring that migrants, mobile populations, and host communities in Ghana have access to life-saving interventions.

For more information, kindly contact, Janice Lovi, Migration Health Physician, IOM Ghana by email: jlovi@iom.int