The Ghana National Consortium on Neglected Tropical Diseases (Ghac-NTDs) has called for closer collaboration between the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Ministry of Health, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to accelerate the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ghana by 2030.

Marking World NTD Day 2026 in Tamale, the consortium noted that while Ghana has recorded major successes, including the elimination of Guinea worm, trachoma, and Human African Trypanosomiasis, 14 of the 21 recognised NTDs remain prevalent in the country.

It said more than 12 million Ghanaians are still at risk, largely due to poverty and poor sanitation.

The consortium expressed concern that current efforts to address NTDs remain fragmented and poorly coordinated, limiting progress.

It cited challenges facing civil society groups, including limited access to disease data, top-down decision-making processes, and inadequate domestic funding for NTD programmes.

Ghac-NTDs called on government to formally integrate CSOs into national and sub-national coordinating structures, operationalise the End NTDs Fund announced in 2025, improve data sharing through a digital surveillance platform, and adopt more integrated, person-centred healthcare approaches.

The consortium reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s NTD Sustainability Plan (2023–2026) and stressed that eliminating NTDs by 2030 remains achievable with coordinated action.