Every year, from 18 to 24 September, the world observes World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, a time to reflect on one of the most dangerous and underestimated threats to public health: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
For Ghana, the stakes couldn’t be higher. AMR is not just a health crisis; it’s an economic crisis that quietly drains our health system, households, and national growth.
AMR: a silent but growing threat
AMR occurs when germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungi evolve to survive the medicines that are meant to kill them. When this happens, once-simple infections become much harder to treat.
The World Health Organization (WHO) now lists AMR as one of its top 10 global public health threats, and with good reason: resistant infections lead to longer illnesses, more failed treatments, and more deaths.
Globally, AMR already played a role in nearly 4.95 million deaths in 2019, with 1.27 million of those solely attributable to drug-resistant infections [1].
Why Ghana is particularly exposed
Ghana feels the impact acutely. According to data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), in 2019, about 5,900 deaths in Ghana were directly attributable to AMR, with an additional 25,300 deaths associated with it. In terms of mortality rates, Ghana ranked 36th globally per 100,000 people [2].
One of the major contributing factors? Easy access to antimicrobials. In many parts of Ghana, antimicrobials can be bought over the counter without prescriptions, contributing to their misuse.
As older, cheaper antimicrobials lose their effectiveness, healthcare providers are forced to turn to newer, more expensive drugs that may not even be readily available.
The economic toll on our health system
Local research shows just how costly AMR has become for Ghana’s health system. A study in two major public hospitals found that patients with drug-resistant infections spend about five extra days in the hospital compared with those with susceptible infections, adding roughly US$823–$946 to each admission. In a single year, those two hospitals alone incurred about US$650,000 in additional costs.
For patients, the burden is even heavier: AMR-related illness results in about US$1,300 in extra expenses per person, including significant income losses from being unable to work. Altogether, patient-level costs at the two hospitals were estimated between US$1 million and US$1.4 million annually, a stark reminder that AMR drains both the health system and household finances [3].
The global picture: Why AMR matters for Ghana’s economy
On the global front, projections are equally frightening. A recent report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and other institutions estimates that, under a “business-as-usual” scenario, AMR could raise global health care costs from US$66 billion today to US$159 billion annually by 2050.
If resistance worsens at the pace seen in the worst-affected countries, the costs could balloon to US$325 billion, and the global economy could shrink by US$1.7 trillion by mid-century.
But there is hope. The same models show that if we invest in high-quality treatment for everyone and innovate new antimicrobials, by 2050 we could save US$97 billion in health care costs, grow the global economy by US$960 billion, and generate US$680 billion in health gains [4].
The Ghanaian case for urgent action
For Ghana, the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance carries serious national consequences. With the country’s health expenditure projected to exceed GH₵17.8 billion in 2025, AMR threatens to divert an ever-growing share of this budget toward treating resistant infection; resources that could otherwise be used to strengthen prevention, improve health infrastructure, or expand essential services. At the household level, families already struggling with medical bills face even greater financial pressure when infections become harder and more expensive to treat, increasing the risk of catastrophic healthcare costs and widening existing inequalities.
The health system itself also absorbs the impact: resistant infections keep patients in hospital for much longer, occupying beds and stretching staff capacity. Preventing these infections would free up thousands of bed-days each year and improve access for others who urgently need care. Beyond the health sector, Ghana’s broader economic prospects are also at stake. If left unchecked, AMR could place the country among those contributing to the global economic slowdown projected in the worst-case scenarios, hindering national growth at a time when investment in health, jobs, and innovation is most needed.
What Ghana must do, and fast
Tackling AMR in Ghana demands strong leadership across every layer of society, beginning with government. Effective action starts with enforcing existing laws that restrict the sale of antimicrobials. At the same time, the country must invest in better diagnostic laboratories and national surveillance systems so health professionals can choose the right medicines and policymakers can track resistance trends with accuracy. Increased funding for infection prevention and control, from hospitals and clinics to schools and public institutions, will reduce the number of infections that require antimicrobials in the first place.
Healthcare workers, who form the frontline of defense, also hold enormous responsibility. Their decisions about prescribing, dispensing, and administering antimicrobials determine whether resistance slows or accelerates. Clinicians must rely on evidence, not habit or patient pressure, when prescribing antimicrobials, while pharmacists must refuse to dispense antimicrobials without a valid prescription and continue educating patients on correct use.
Nurses and other staff must reinforce strong hygiene and infection prevention practices to reduce hospital-acquired infections. Laboratories play an equally vital role by providing accurate, timely diagnostics that allow the right antimicrobial to be used at the right time. Strengthened antimicrobial stewardship committees across facilities can help guide clinical teams, monitor antibiotic use, and support continuous professional development.
Equally important is the role of policymakers and regulators, who must close the systemic loopholes that allow misuse to flourish. This includes cracking down on illegal antibiotic sales in unlicensed shops and informal markets, tightening oversight, and conducting routine inspections. Updated national treatment guidelines must reflect current resistance patterns and be enforced across both public and private health facilities.
Better reporting systems are also needed, requiring hospitals to submit data on antimicrobial use and resistance. Policymakers must extend these efforts beyond human health by collaborating with agriculture and veterinary sectors, where excessive use of antimicrobials in livestock significantly contributes to the AMR burden.
The media, as a bridge between science and society, has the power to reshape public understanding and behaviour. Journalists and broadcasters can elevate AMR from a technical issue to a national development concern by reporting consistently on the threat, producing human-interest stories, and engaging experts. Public education campaigns across television, radio, print, and digital platforms can explain why antimicrobials are not all-purpose medicines and highlight the dangers of misuse.
Ultimately, the general public plays a decisive role in halting AMR. Every Ghanaian must understand that antimicrobials should never be taken without medical advice, never demanded from clinicians, and never shared with others.
When antimicrobials are prescribed, the full course must be completed. Basic actions such as regular handwashing, safe food handling, clean home environments, and supporting vaccination campaigns reduce infections and minimize the need for antimicrobials altogether. The fight against AMR is everyone’s responsibility, and the small, everyday decisions made by individuals can collectively protect the nation from a growing and costly threat.
The Author
Dr. Harry Amoaning Okyere, PharmD
Harry Amoaning Okyere is a pharmacist, epidemiologist, and researcher with more than 10 years of experience delivering quality pharmaceutical care in diverse settings. He currently serves as the Deputy Executive Secretary and lead for Strategic Planning at the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, where he supports the development of initiatives that strengthen pharmacy practice and public health outcomes.
Sources
- Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators. (2022). Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. The Lancet; 399(10325): P629-655. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0
- Donkor ES, Odoom A, Osman AH, Darkwah S, Kotey FCN. A Systematic Review on Antimicrobial Resistance in Ghana from a One Health Perspective. Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 Jul 17;13(7):662. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13070662. PMID: 39061344; PMCID: PMC11274323.
- Otieku E, Fenny AP, Labi AK, Ofori AO, Kurtzhals JAL, Enemark U. Attributable Patient Cost of Antimicrobial Resistance: A Prospective Parallel Cohort Study in Two Public Teaching Hospitals in Ghana. Pharmacoecon Open. 2023 Mar;7(2):257-271. doi: 10.1007/s41669-022-00385-9. Epub 2023 Jan 24. PMID: 36692621; PMCID: PMC10043073.
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