Ghana will, in September 2025, begin a nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer among girls aged 9 to 14 years.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, announced the move during a stakeholder meeting with education sector partners on Thursday, June 20, 2025.

 He said the vaccine would be added to the country’s routine national immunisation schedule and provided at no cost to recipients.

“HPV vaccines are safe and well-tolerated. Our Food and Drugs Authority has done its due diligence, and today, Ghana joins 144 WHO member states in taking this bold step to protect our girls,” Prof Akoriyea said.

He explained that Ghana first introduced the HPV vaccine in 2013 through a pilot programme in the Greater Accra, Central, and Northern regions. After 12 years of implementation in those areas, the Service believes the country is now ready to extend it across all regions.

Dr Nazir Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, said the vaccine will be administered as a single dose and delivered through school-based programmes and community outreach.

He said this method has been proven effective in other parts of the world and is expected to reach more than 2.5 million girls.

“Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana. Each year, we record more than 2,800 new cases,” Dr Mohammed stated.

Dr Manuel Dewez, UNICEF Ghana’s Chief of Health and Nutrition, confirmed that the country has received its first shipment of the HPV vaccine.

He added that an additional 2.5 million doses are expected in the coming months. Dr Dewez also urged continued cooperation across sectors to help manage possible challenges related to logistics and funding.

The Ghana Health Service encouraged the public to help with raising awareness, registering eligible girls in advance, and creating an atmosphere where vaccination can take place smoothly.