The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to help anticipate disease outbreaks and strengthen emergency planning as the country steps up preparations against the threat of Ebola.
The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, said health officials were considering how emerging technologies could improve the assessment of public health risks and support timely decisions when infectious diseases threaten to cross national borders.
He said the discussions formed part of broader preparedness efforts following reports of Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa and concerns about the potential spread of the disease through international travel.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, October 26, Dr Kaba Akoriyea said the proposed use of AI was intended to help authorities better anticipate developments and plan their response.
“From there, I move into a meeting where we are talking about technology and how to even use AI to help predict what will happen,” he revealed.
Technology to support early warning
The exploration of AI comes as public health authorities face the challenge of identifying infectious disease threats in a world where people travel frequently between countries and outbreaks can have implications beyond the communities in which they begin.
Predictive technologies can help analyse information such as disease trends, population movement and environmental conditions to identify emerging risks and guide decisions on where surveillance and resources may be needed.
For Ghana, such tools could potentially complement existing disease monitoring systems by helping officials identify areas requiring closer attention and plan interventions before a health emergency escalates.
However, the effectiveness of AI-based systems would depend on the availability of reliable and timely data, appropriate technical expertise and the capacity of health authorities to act on the information generated.
The technology would not replace laboratory diagnosis, clinical assessment or established outbreak response measures. Rather, it could serve as an additional tool to support decisions by public health officials.
Ghana remains in preparedness phase
Dr Kaba Akoriyea stressed that Ghana was preparing for a possible Ebola threat, rather than announcing the detection of an outbreak in the country.
“But now, let me say that when it comes to Ebola, we are in the face of preparedness,” he noted.
The GHS has reported conducting simulation exercises and coordinating with other state institutions as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s response arrangements.
The Director-General has also described the work of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at Pantang, which monitors international health developments and supports emergency coordination.
The preparedness effort involves multiple agencies, including those responsible for health, security, education and disaster management, reflecting the need for a coordinated response if a suspected case is identified.
Ghana’s regional engagements are also important because of the movement of people across borders and the need for countries to share information about emerging health risks.
Surveillance remains critical
Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause serious illness and death. It spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is symptomatic or with contaminated materials.
Symptoms may develop between two and 21 days after exposure. Consequently, a person who has been infected may not appear ill when travelling, making surveillance, accurate traveller information and appropriate follow-up important elements of outbreak preparedness.
Public health responses typically involve the rapid identification and assessment of suspected cases, laboratory testing, isolation and clinical care where indicated, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and public education.