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Ghana faces critical blood shortage as voluntary donations fall below national and international targets
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Ghana's voluntary blood donation rate of 36 percent is below national and international targets, raising concerns about the country's safe blood supply. This issue was highlighted at the 2026 World Blood Donor Day commemoration in Accra. Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, stated that Ghana collects about 200,000 units of blood annually, but the national need exceeds 300,000 units. The low voluntary donation rate, far from the 100 percent target, leads to an overreliance on family replacement donors, causing inconsistent supply and safety concerns. Dr. Fiona Braka, World Health Organisation Country Representative, noted that Ghana's blood donation rate is 6.6 per 1,000 population, below the WHO benchmark of 10 per 1,000 needed for an adequate supply. She emphasized that voluntary blood donation is the safest and most sustainable source. Professor Catherine Segbefia, Chairperson for the occasion, stressed that inadequate blood supply has severe human consequences, particularly for patients needing repeated transfusions. She called for a shift to regular voluntary blood donation to ensure a consistent supply.
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