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Low COVID-19 mortality in Africa has no correlation with hot climate – UG don
Prof Gordon Awandare (2nd left) being congratulated by some of his colleagues
The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana in-charge of Students and Academic Affairs, Prof Gordon Awandare, has said that the relatively low COVID-19 mortality recorded in Africa, has nothing to do with the hot climate in Africa, as some people suggested.
Making reference to a research conducted by his team, he observed that the rate of COVID-19 infections among Ghanaians was less, due to frequent exposure to malaria fight from childhood.
Professor Awandare was speaking during his inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana, last Thursday, on the topic: “How our Immune System Acquired Tolerance to Malaria and Helped us Survive COVID-19.”
According to him, the immune system of Ghanaians became tolerant to malaria parasites thereby “protecting them from the severity of the pandemic.”
He again stated that patients, who were infected with malaria parasites but showed no symptoms, had the capability of tolerating malaria parasites.
“Such people are asymptomatic patients and most of them live in malaria endemic areas thus their tolerance for the parasites intrigued my team and I,” he added.
He further noted that children and persons who hadn’t been exposed to malaria before were likely to have severe symptoms of malaria such as headache and little bit of fatigue.
This was also backed by a study he had undertaken in three key areas namely Kintampo, Navrongo and Accra on the differences in transmission rates within the country.
His study observed that despite having “lower parasite levels,” children in Accra were prone to higher fever than those at Kintampo who had huge parasite level.
Professor Awandare, who is also the Founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), said that COVID-19 showed that African scientists were competent as their counterparts abroad, saying “this is because here at WACCBIP, we were able to sequence and test the virus as others did, thus understanding the virus.”
Professor Awandare stressed the need for the country to position itself towards developing vaccines locally instead of relying on foreign donors, and tasked Ghanaians to continue to support institutions like WACCBIP in order to train more scientists and build capacity.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, also underscored that diverse significant roles played by several units of the university during the pandemic, contributed to understanding the pathogens, biology and disease mechanism to generate knowledge for the development of diagnostics, vaccines and drugs.
The inaugral lecture formed part of an exhibition of scholarly works by the renowned professor at the Balme Library, which had begun on Monday.
By Yunusah Essandoh
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
