Drug-resistant bacteria are no longer just a hospital problem. They are being found in the air, rivers, industrial wastewater and food production environments, raising fresh concerns about the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Ghana.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says its latest environmental surveillance has uncovered resistant microorganisms in several environmental settings, signaling that the fight against antimicrobial resistance must extend beyond healthcare facilities.
The findings, contained in the EPA’s Environmental AMR Policy Brief, reveal that resistant bacteria have been detected in ambient air, surface water bodies, slaughterhouse wastewater, fish farm effluents, fish processing facilities and pharmaceutical discharges in parts of Accra, Kumasi, Tema, Ashanti, Bono, Eastern, Greater Accra and the Western Region.
According to the Authority, these environments can serve as reservoirs for antimicrobial-resistant organisms, allowing them to persist and spread across communities, animals and ecosystems.
The EPA’s officials explained that the launch of the AMR Policy Brief that among the resistant organisms identified are multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella in slaughterhouse wastewater, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii in pharmaceutical discharges, as well as resistant Aeromonas and Pseudomonas in fish farm effluents.
The EPA says resistant bacteria were also detected in surface water bodies affected by agricultural and urban runoff, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
WHY IT MATTERS
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms evolve to withstand medicines designed to kill them. As resistance increases, common infections become harder—and sometimes impossible—to treat.
While AMR has traditionally been viewed as a healthcare issue, the EPA says environmental pollution is emerging as a major driver of the crisis. Untreated wastewater, industrial effluents and poor waste disposal practices can introduce antimicrobial residues and resistant bacteria into the environment, creating conditions that encourage their survival and spread.
EPA’S RESPONSE
To curb the threat, the Authority says it is expanding environmental AMR surveillance to include air, water and soil while strengthening monitoring of aquaculture facilities, slaughterhouses, pharmaceutical industries and fish processing plants.
The EPA also plans to promote improved wastewater treatment, responsible waste management, antimicrobial stewardship and stronger regulation of antimicrobial use across agriculture, aquaculture and industry. Public education campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of environmental AMR will also be intensified.
CALL TO ACTION
The Authority is encouraging Ghanaians to use antibiotics only when prescribed, dispose of unused medicines through approved pharmaceutical outlets and support efforts to reduce environmental pollution.
It says addressing antimicrobial resistance will require a One Health approach—bringing together the health, agriculture, veterinary and environmental sectors—to protect both public health and the effectiveness of life-saving medicines for future generations.
By Enyonam Haligah
