Conference Abstract | Volume 9, Abstract 081 (ConfProc7) | Published: 13 Aug 2026
Linda Rhodaline Appiah1,&, Sherry Eleblu Johnson2, Amponsah Patrick1, Randy Ntim Yeboah1, Emmanuel Allege Cudjoe1
1Veterinary Services Directorate, Kumasi Veterinary Laboratory, 2School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana, Legon
&Corresponding author: Linda Rhodaline Appiah, Veterinary Services Directorate, Kumasi Veterinary Laboratory, Ghana, Email: lindaappiah763@gmail.com
Received: 29 Aug 2025, Accepted: 28 Oct 2025, Published: 13 Aug 2026
Domain: Antimicrobial Resistance
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, Surveillance evaluation, Animal health, Data quality, One Health, Ghana
©Linda Rhodaline Appiah et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Linda Rhodaline Appiah et al. Evaluation of antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in the animal health sector of Ghana. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfProc7):081. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO7-0081
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) poses a growing global threat to human, animal, and environmental health. In Ghana, the animal health sector contributes vital data to national AMR surveillance; however, systematic evaluation of its performance remains limited. This study assessed the functionality of the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (AMRSS) in Ghana’s animal health sector, focusing on data quality, usefulness, and timeliness within the One Health framework.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across three sentinel veterinary laboratories in Kumasi, Pong-Tamale, and Accra from 2023 to 2024. Evaluation followed World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) AMR surveillance assessment frameworks. Data were collected through document reviews, WHONET database analyses, and a semi-structured checklist with laboratory and surveillance personnel. System attributes were rated as poor (<40%), moderate (40–70%), or good (>70%) based on predefined criteria.
All three laboratories actively contributed to national AMR data reporting. Overall data quality was rated good (72–84%), though inconsistencies in antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods and incomplete metadata were observed. Timeliness ranged from moderate to good (64–94%), with delays primarily due to manual data entry, reagent shortages, and lack of timestamp tracking. Usefulness was high (71–84%), as AMRSS outputs supported national antimicrobial stewardship policies and informed decision-making on veterinary drug use. Major challenges included inconsistent AST standardization, reagent stock-outs, limited feedback mechanisms, and underdeveloped digital infrastructure.
Ghana’s AMR surveillance system in the animal health sector demonstrates strong potential in supporting national and global AMR monitoring. While data quality and usefulness are commendable, timeliness and system standardization require improvement. Enhancing laboratory capacity, harmonizing AST protocols, and transitioning to digital, real-time reporting platforms will strengthen evidence-based responses to emerging resistance threats. Continued investment and integration under the One Health approach are essential for sustaining an effective AMR surveillance system.
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