17/09/2026
AHAFO REGION TO COMMENCE 2026 MASS RABIES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
The Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the Ahafo Region is set to commence the 2026 Mass Rabies Vaccination Campaign, following the receipt of 1,500 doses of rabies vaccines to support the exercise in areas identified as hotspots for rabies outbreaks across the region.
The vaccines will be used to vaccinate eligible dogs and cats in the identified hotspots. The exercise will be conducted free of charge throughout September 2026, as part of efforts to prevent and control the spread of rabies and protect both human and animal populations from the deadly but preventable disease. The Department has indicated that the prescribed vaccination fees will apply after September 2026.
The campaign supports Ghana’s commitment to achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 and forms part of activities marking World Rabies Month 2026, under the theme “Stronger Together.”
Speaking on the campaign, Dr. Yaw Gyekye, Ahafo Regional Veterinary Officer, said the vaccination exercise was aimed at increasing rabies vaccination coverage in identified hotspots and reducing the risk of transmission of the disease to humans and animals. He urged pet owners to take advantage of the free vaccination exercise throughout September and ensure that their dogs and cats were vaccinated against rabies annually.
According to Dr. Gyekye, the Ahafo Region has recorded a number of human deaths from dog-mediated rabies in previous years, underscoring the need for sustained vaccination of dogs and cats, responsible pet ownership, and prompt reporting and management of animal bites and scratches. He said the situation highlights the importance of strengthening rabies prevention and control measures across the region.
Dr. Gyekye further emphasised that responsible pet ownership would help minimise the presence of stray animals in communities, which poses a major challenge to effective rabies vaccination campaigns. He therefore encouraged pet owners to keep their animals under proper care and control to facilitate vaccination and contribute to efforts to prevent the spread of rabies.
Veterinary officers will conduct the vaccination exercise in the identified high-risk areas across the region. All pet owners, particularly owners of dogs and cats in these areas, are encouraged to make their animals available for vaccination during the campaign.
The Veterinary Services Department reminded all pet owners that dogs and cats should be vaccinated against rabies every year as an important preventive measure. Pet owners have also been encouraged to practise responsible pet ownership and ensure that their animals receive regular veterinary care.
The Department further reminded pet owners that failure to vaccinate a pet may constitute an offence under applicable Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA) bye-laws. Pet owners are therefore encouraged to comply with applicable vaccination requirements and ensure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated annually.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the central nervous system of humans and animals. It is mainly transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal. Although rabies is preventable through vaccination, the disease is almost always fatal once clinical symptoms develop.
The Department has therefore urged the public to report any animal bite or scratch immediately to the nearest health facility for prompt medical attention. The animal involved should also be reported to the nearest Veterinary Services Centre for appropriate follow-up and assessment.
Members of the public have further been advised to avoid handling animals suspected of having rabies or those displaying unusual or aggressive behaviour, and to promptly report such animals to veterinary authorities.
The Veterinary Services Department is calling on traditional authorities, community leaders, pet owners and the general public to support the campaign by cooperating with veterinary personnel and ensuring that eligible dogs and cats are vaccinated.
The campaign is expected to contribute to increased vaccination coverage in the Ahafo Region, reduce the risk of rabies transmission and support Ghana’s national goal of achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.
The exercise further reinforces the importance of collective action among government agencies, veterinary professionals, health workers, communities and pet owners in the fight against rabies, in line with the “Stronger Together” theme.