Traditional Leaders Join Vaccine Awareness Drive in Ghana

Ghana Trains Queen Mothers as Vaccine Ambassadors to Boost Public Trust and Fight Health Misinformation

In a bold and culturally rooted effort to increase public trust in vaccines and combat health misinformation, the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health has launched a nationwide initiative to train queen mothers as vaccine ambassadors. These influential traditional leaders will now lead the charge in educating communities across Ghana on the importance of immunization.

As Ghana continues to strengthen its public health system and improve immunization rates, the role of queen mothers — highly respected female traditional authorities — is proving essential. With deep-rooted trust and influence in their communities, they are uniquely positioned to correct vaccine myths and encourage acceptance of life-saving immunizations.

Why Queen Mothers?
According to Ninsau Darku Alazer, the National Vice Chairman of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, queen mothers were intentionally selected for their authority, cultural significance, and ability to influence both women and men across generations.

“Queen mothers are trusted figures. Whether they speak to a man, woman, or child, their words carry weight. People listen to them more readily than even health professionals,” he explained during the program’s launch.

The initiative aims to reach over 10,000 communities in 100 districts across Ghana. Each queen mother will receive support — including small stipends and travel allowances — to facilitate community visits, organize health forums, and speak directly to citizens about the benefits of vaccines.

Real Impact in Local Communities
Queen mothers who have already begun their work report noticeable changes. Nana Adwoa Pinaman, the Queen Mother of Bekwai, shared how the training helped her challenge old but harmful traditional practices.

“Before this program, we used to treat diseases like measles with local herbs and even alcohol like ‘akpeteshi.’ Unfortunately, many babies died. Now, we’ve seen the results of immunization, and all those old methods have been abandoned,” she said.

From Ghana’s northern Savannah Region, Hajia Dr. Kansawurche Zara Bukari also highlighted positive feedback from her district. “Initially, many mothers were afraid to immunize their children due to misconceptions. But now, thanks to our education efforts, we’ve seen major improvements in vaccine acceptance.”

Fighting Misinformation with Local Voices
In addition to training queen mothers, the Coalition is also targeting misinformation spread through local media. Plans are underway to train over 500 operators of Community Information Centres to broadcast accurate vaccine information in local languages.

“These local radio-style platforms often spread misinformation unintentionally,” Mr. Alazer noted. “When false claims are made on-air, people tend to believe them without question. That’s why we’re investing in proper training — so they can share facts, backed by medical evidence, in a way communities understand.”

A Groundbreaking Grassroots Strategy
This multi-pronged approach — combining trusted traditional leaders with community media outreach — is expected to dramatically improve immunization coverage in Ghana. It’s a model that leverages cultural values and community influence to tackle vaccine hesitancy head-on.

By turning queen mothers into health ambassadors and empowering them to speak with authority on modern medical practices, Ghana is making strides in bridging the gap between tradition and science. The initiative proves that effective public health strategies must be rooted in cultural relevance and community trust.

As the campaign continues to roll out nationwide, the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health hopes to see even greater vaccine acceptance, fewer preventable diseases, and stronger communities.