Managing Covid-19 Pandemic in West Africa: The Case of Ghana

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant threat to global human security, although West Africa, which was once expected to be particularly vulnerable, had very low results. This study investigates the management of COVID-19 in West Africa, with Ghana as a case study, considering international health legislation and widely known pandemic response methods. The study employs a qualitative research design guided by strategic management theory in a post pandemic, non-ergodic context, as well as the human security framework in consultation with the securitization theory. Data were gathered through eight key informant interviews and thirty-two in-depth interviews with individuals directly involved in or knowledgeable about pandemic management. The analysis focuses on how COVID-19 affects survival, livelihoods, mobility, and institutional capability. The findings show that COVID-19 had significant consequences on the subregion, causing economic disruption, increased morbidity and mortality risks, and travel restrictions. In response, governments used a combination of political leadership, public health education, treatment and isolation facilities, monitoring and contact tracing systems, border controls, lockdowns, and health-system strengthening measures. The study further discovers that global health governance remains fragmented, with the International Health Regulations serving primarily as a normative framework rather than a legally enforceable regime, placing a significant burden on state adaptive ability. Governance and coordination difficulties, vaccination challenges, and financial constraints were all significant barriers to effective pandemic management. The study indicates that adaptive governance, contextualised implementation of international principles, and regional cooperation were critical in managing the epidemic in West Africa. It suggests deepening preparedness frameworks, improving accountability, and fortifying the resilience of the health system in order to handle future public health emergencies