Ghana will not rush adoption of malaria-free mosquito technology – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education Dr. Clement Abas Apaak has cautioned against rushing the adoption of malaria-free mosquito technology in Ghana, stressing that the proposed intervention must first undergo rigorous scientific examination and public engagement.

He said although the technology offers a promising approach to malaria elimination, it remains at the stage of laboratory evidence and modelling and has not been released anywhere in the world.

Speaking at the National Co-Creation Workshop on Malaria-Free Mosquito Technology for Malaria Elimination in Ghana in Accra on Wednesday, November 4, Dr. Apaak said Ghana must independently assess the evidence before deciding whether to pursue the technology.

“Malaria-free mosquito technology is promising, but it is still at the stage of laboratory evidence and modelling. It has not been released anywhere in the world,” he said.

He added that Ghana would not simply adopt approaches developed elsewhere without examining their scientific basis and engaging communities that could be affected.

“Ghana will not borrow answers from elsewhere. We will examine the evidence ourselves, ask hard questions openly, and decide for ourselves, with our communities at the table,” he stated.

Dr Apaak said the country had the scientific and regulatory institutions needed to contribute meaningfully to the assessment of the technology.

He cited institutions including the University of Ghana, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

He also highlighted the role of the National Biosafety Authority in providing regulatory oversight.

According to him, the country’s approach must combine ambition with caution, ensuring that scientific evidence and public trust guide any future decisions.

“Leadership in this field will be measured not by speed, but by the quality of our science and the trust we earn,” he said.

The two-day workshop was convened by the Ghana National Research Fund in partnership with the Gates Foundation and WACCBIP to examine the potential of the technology in Ghana’s malaria elimination efforts.

Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Ghana.

Dr. Apaak disclosed that more than 5.3 million cases were recorded last year, while insecticide resistance is weakening some of the tools currently used to control the disease.

He said new scientific approaches would be necessary if Ghana was serious about eliminating malaria.