Presented by Prosper Mandela Amaltinga Awuni,
Doctoral Student, Rural and Northern Health,
Laurentian University.
Ghana was the first country to receive the Coronavirus vaccine under the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative on February 24, 2021. Vaccination started on March 1, 2021, making the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ghana the longest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the longevity, by mid-2023, 44.5% of Ghanaians had taken two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, while 28.9% were partially vaccinated. Farming is the main occupation of northern Ghana (73%) and contributes 80% to the economy of northerners. However, studies on vaccine hesitancy among farmers thus far are limited or absent; studies have focused solely on Ghana’s healthcare workers and literate populations. This study will explore the individual perceptions and complexities of the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance to ensure more directed health policies toward individual needs.