At the Frontline of Pandemic Prevention: How FAO and Ghana Are Strengthening One Health at Mole National Park

Under the vast savannah skies of northern Ghana, Mole National Park stands not only as a sanctuary for elephants, antelopes and birdlife, but also as a frontline in the global fight against zoonotic diseases.

During a recent privately funded learning visit to Ghana, some Members of the United States Congress met with FAO, Ghana’s Wildlife Division team to see firsthand how investments from donors are strengthening early warning systems for animal and human health. The visit highlighted FAO-supported efforts to detect, report and respond to diseases with pandemic potential, while protecting livelihoods and biodiversity.

At Mole National Park, rangers demonstrated the FAO Event Mobile Application Plus (EMA-i+), a digital tool that enables real-time reporting of wildlife disease events. What once took weeks to communicate now reaches national authorities within hours, transforming surveillance and response at the human, livestock, wildlife interface. Park staff also shared how FAO training has equipped them to recognize priority zoonotic diseases, improving early detection and reducing risks to surrounding communities.

Wildlife Division liaises with the Veterinary Services Directorate officials with strengthened laboratory and field capacity, supported by FAO, to test animal diseases and coordinate responses across sectors. Together, these efforts are helping detect threats at source, curb spillover, and reinforce Ghana’s multi/cross-sectoral One Health system, linking ecosystem health, animal health and public health.

Beyond surveillance, the delegation, led by Representative Young Kim of California, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, visited Mognori Community, located just 10 kilometres from the park, where residents illustrated how conservation and livelihoods can go hand in hand. Through community-based wildlife management and ecotourism, households are generating income from activities such as shea butter processing while helping protect wildlife habitats. Walking through the village and engaging with residents offered a powerful reminder that sustainable conservation depends on empowered communities.

The visit also surfaced key lessons. Mole National Park faces staffing constraints and relies heavily on manual patrols, limiting coverage across its vast landscape. Park authorities emphasized the potential of drone technologies to enhance monitoring and expressed interest in pursuing UNESCO World Heritage status to strengthen conservation financing and visibility.

Looking ahead, FAO is deepening collaboration with Mole National Park management, supporting preparedness activities with community groups, and exploring innovative tools to expand surveillance reach. These next steps will build strong partnerships between FAO, the Wildlife Division and the Veterinary Services Directorate to further reduce zoonotic risks and safeguard ecosystems.

By bringing policymakers directly to the field, the visit underscored how donor investments through FAO are delivering tangible results, strengthening disease surveillance, supporting resilient communities, and advancing global health security. At Mole National Park, One Health is not just a concept, it is being put into action every day. 

Visit UN Ghana Flickr for more photos from this visit.