Accra, Ghana – Ghana joined the global community in commemorating World Blood Donor Day 2025 with a renewed commitment to ensuring widespread access to safe blood and blood products. The National Blood Service (NBS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), marked the day under the global theme, “Give Blood, Give Hope: Together We Save Lives,” celebrating the invaluable contributions of voluntary, unpaid blood donors and advocating for increased public participation, particularly among the nation’s youth.
In his keynote address, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, reiterated the government’s unwavering dedication to improving blood safety and availability. This commitment is an integral part of the broader healthcare reforms being implemented under the “Mahama Cares” initiative. The Minister also revealed that the government is actively exploring measures to alleviate the financial burden on patients, including the potential removal of fees associated with blood processing, aiming to make life-saving transfusions more accessible to all who need them.
The Minister issued a nationwide appeal, urging all Ghanaians between the ages of 17 and 60 to become regular blood donors. He further called upon both public and private institutions across the country to organize at least two blood donation drives annually. This collective effort is crucial in reinforcing the national drive to ensure that no life is lost due to critical blood shortages, thereby strengthening the country’s healthcare system and saving countless lives.
Providing an overview of the current state of blood collection in Ghana, Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, highlighted a significant achievement in 2024. She noted that Ghana successfully collected 187,280 units of blood, reaching an impressive 99% of its national target. Of this total, over 45,000 units were meticulously processed into various blood components to meet the ever-increasing demand for safe and timely transfusions. Despite this success, Dr. Owusu-Ofori acknowledged persistent challenges, including insufficient donation infrastructure, a limited number of mobile collection vans, and crucial funding gaps for the development of a digital Blood Information Management System.
To address these vital issues, she advocated for the establishment of Regional Blood Centres nationwide and the implementation of a sustainable, fully funded National Blood Donor Programme. As part of the ongoing celebrations, nationwide blood drives, public education campaigns, and extensive media outreach activities are planned to encourage regular donations and raise public awareness, with Dr. Owusu-Ofori urging citizens, “Be a lifesaver. Show off your arm!”
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