Ghana is witnessing a dangerous and accelerating rise in antibiotic resistance, with hospitals across the country struggling to treat infections that no longer respond to even the strongest medicines. This alarming development was highlighted by Professor Beverly Egyiri, Senior Research Fellow at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), during the Institute’s Annual Research Meeting held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
Speaking on the theme “Advancing Healthcare Through Impactful Research and Innovation,” Prof. Egyiri explained that antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become so powerful that the drugs designed to eliminate them stop working. This, she warned, is leading to treatment failures, prolonged illness, and preventable deaths.
Hospitals Running Out of Effective Treatment Options
Prof. Egyiri revealed that many healthcare facilities in Ghana and across Africa are now dealing with infections that fail to respond even to last-line antibiotics.
“In many hospitals, doctors are moving from drug to drug, yet the patients still do not survive,” she said. “Every delay in intervening represents a life lost, and this is happening in several hospitals on the continent.”
According to her, some of the bacterial samples analysed at NMIMR showed resistance to all available antibiotics, a scenario she described as “extremely worrying.”
Misuse of Antibiotics Fueling Resistance
Prof. Egyiri attributed the worsening situation to several factors, including:
- Misuse and overuse of antibiotics
- Easy access to antibiotics without prescriptions
- Weak infection prevention and control systems
- Widespread misuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic
She emphasized that the pandemic caused an unprecedented spike in indiscriminate antibiotic use, accelerating resistance rates across the continent.
Weak Laboratory Capacity Puts Countries at Risk
Another major challenge highlighted was Africa’s limited diagnostic capability. Only 1.3% of laboratories on the continent can run the tests needed to guide appropriate antibiotic use.
“When we do not test, we are essentially flying blind,” she cautioned, noting that this leads to guesswork in treatment and contributes to rising resistance.
Slow Implementation of National Action Plans
Although many African countries, including Ghana, have developed national antimicrobial resistance action plans aligned with the World Health Organization’s global strategy, implementation remains weak.
Prof. Egyiri cited limited funding, poor enforcement, and inadequate policy execution as key barriers slowing progress.
Noguchi, Japan and Government Renew Commitment to Scientific Advancement
Director of NMIMR, Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s biomedical research capacity. She credited ongoing training programmes and international partnerships, particularly with Japan, for boosting scientific expertise.
Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, praised Noguchi for its leadership in public health research and pledged continued support for scientific development.
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, also highlighted the government’s priority areas, including:
- Modernising national laboratory systems
- Enhancing universal health coverage using data-driven decisions
- Strengthening health-related training programmes
- Promoting local pharmaceutical and vaccine production
“We all felt very sad when we realised the country could not conduct certain tests locally,” the minister said. “But now, we are confident that Ghana will do these tests again.”
