Rising Antibiotic Resistance in Ghana: Expert Insights from Noguchi Memorial Institute

Introduction

Ghana is facing a critical public health challenge with the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance, also known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At the Annual Research Meeting of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) on November 25, 2025, Senior Research Fellow Professor Beverly Egyiri highlighted this “unhealthy upward thrust” in resistance levels. Held under the theme “Advancing Healthcare Through Impactful Research and Innovation,” the event underscored how bacteria are evolving to withstand even the strongest antibiotics, leading to treatment failures and preventable deaths.

Antibiotics, essential drugs for treating bacterial infections, are losing effectiveness as pathogens grow resistant. This issue, exacerbated by misuse in Ghana and across Africa, demands urgent attention. This article breaks down the crisis, its causes, and collaborative efforts to combat antibiotic resistance in Ghana.

Analysis

Understanding Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites change over time and no longer respond to medications designed to kill them. Professor Egyiri explained that this renders drugs ineffective, causing prolonged illnesses, higher medical costs, and increased mortality. In simple terms, germs become “robust,” surviving treatments meant to eliminate them.

Evidence from Ghanaian Hospitals

Many hospitals in Ghana now struggle with infections unresponsive to first-line and even last-resort antibiotics. Doctors cycle through multiple drugs, but patients often do not recover. Each delay in effective treatment equates to lives lost—a pattern observed continent-wide in African hospitals dealing with antimicrobial resistance.

Root Causes of the Surge

The rise stems from several verifiable factors:

• Misuse and overuse: Antibiotics are readily available over-the-counter in pharmacies without prescriptions, promoting self-medication.
• Weak infection prevention and control (IPC): Many health facilities lack robust systems to curb hospital-acquired infections.
• COVID-19 impact: The pandemic spurred indiscriminate antibiotic use, even for viral illnesses where they are ineffective, accelerating resistance.

Lab analyses reveal bacteria from patients resistant to nearly all tested antibiotics, including those reserved for severe cases. Africa’s diagnostic shortfall compounds this: only 1.3% of laboratories can perform essential tests to guide appropriate antibiotic prescribing, leaving clinicians “flying blind.”

Implementation Gaps in Policy

Ghana and other African nations have adopted national action plans aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan on AMR. However, progress lags due to limited funding and poor policy enforcement.

Summary

Professor Beverly Egyiri’s presentation at NMIMR’s 2025 Annual Research Meeting painted a stark picture of antibiotic resistance in Ghana. Hospitals report untreatable infections, driven by antibiotic misuse, easy access without prescriptions, and COVID-19-era overuse. Bacterial samples show pan-resistance, while diagnostic labs cover just 1.3% of needs in Africa. Despite WHO-aligned plans, implementation falters. Event speakers, including NMIMR Director Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Yoshimoto, and Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, reaffirmed commitments to research, partnerships, and health system upgrades.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For Individuals: Responsible Antibiotic Use

To curb antibiotic resistance in Ghana, always complete prescribed courses, never self-medicate, and use antibiotics only for bacterial infections—not colds or flu. Consult healthcare providers before purchasing from pharmacies.

For Healthcare Providers: Stewardship Programs

Implement antibiotic stewardship: prescribe based on tests, educate patients, and adhere to guidelines. Strengthen IPC with hand hygiene, sterilization, and isolation protocols.

For Policymakers: Building Capacity

Invest in labs for rapid diagnostics, enforce prescription-only sales, and monitor usage via surveillance. Expand training like NMIMR’s programs to build expertise.

Points of Caution

Avoid demanding antibiotics for viral illnesses, as this fuels resistance. Be wary of unregulated pharmacies selling substandard drugs. Patients should report IPC lapses in facilities. Globally, WHO warns that without action, AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050—Ghana must act swiftly to avoid this trajectory.

Comparison

Ghana vs. Global AMR Trends

Ghana’s situation mirrors global patterns but is acute in Africa due to higher infectious disease burdens and weaker infrastructure. WHO data shows AMR deaths at 1.27 million in 2019 worldwide; low-resource settings like Ghana face disproportionate impacts. Unlike high-income countries with advanced stewardship, Ghana’s OTC access exacerbates misuse.

Africa-Wide Context

Across Africa, hospital resistance rates exceed 50% for common pathogens like E. coli and Klebsiella, per WHO reports. Ghana aligns with neighbors like Nigeria and Kenya, where lab capacity is similarly low at under 2%.

Legal Implications

Ghana’s adherence to WHO’s Global Action Plan imposes obligations under international health frameworks like the International Health Regulations (IHR). Nationally, the Ghana Health Service enforces prescription requirements via the Pharmacy Act, but lax enforcement enables OTC sales. Violations can lead to fines or license revocations for pharmacies. Strengthening legal compliance is key to AMR national action plans, ensuring accountability in antibiotic dispensing and IPC standards.

Conclusion

The upward trend in antibiotic resistance in Ghana signals a public health emergency, as voiced by NMIMR’s Prof. Egyiri. Misuse, diagnostic gaps, and implementation delays amplify risks, but hope lies in collaborations—like Ghana-Japan partnerships—and priorities such as lab upgrades and training. Collective action from individuals, providers, and government can reverse this crisis, safeguarding healthcare for future generations.

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