Mr Prosper Addo, the Municipal Chief executive (MCE), for Krachi West Municipality of the Oti Region, has called for urgent measures to protect residents against rising cases of typhoid fever in the region.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Addo urged health authorities to roll out mass typhoid vaccinations for the people of Oti, following a new report that revealed the region has recorded some of the highest typhoid cases in the first quarter of 2025.

He said the development was worrying and required swift intervention to safeguard public health.

“We cannot sit unconcerned while our people continue to suffer from preventable diseases. I am calling on the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to urgently consider providing typhoid injections for our communities,” he stressed.

Mr Addo noted that the situation was putting additional strain on local health facilities, many of which were already overstretched and emphasised that prevention through vaccination would be more effective and less costly than managing full-blown outbreaks.

The MCE, also the Dean of Oti MMDCEs, explained the reasons behind the inauguration of 21 individuals by the Oti Regional Coordinating Council.

The newly sworn-in team had been mandated to strictly enforce sanitation by-laws across the region. Mr Addo said the move was to help curb poor sanitation practices, which contribute significantly to the spread of typhoid and other communicable diseases.

“The formation of this task force is a necessary step. Sanitation and public health go hand in hand, and by enforcing our sanitation laws, we can reduce the breeding grounds for typhoid and related illnesses,” he said.

He however, appealed to civil society organisations, development partners, and traditional leaders in the Oti Region to support sensitisation campaigns on healthy sanitation practices, safe drinking water, and personal hygiene to complement the medical response.

Residents in the area have also expressed concern over the increase in typhoid fever with about 20.000 cases reported in the first half of 2025, they are therefore calling on government and stakeholders to act quickly to address the situation.