The World Health Organization (WHO) says almost 2.4 million Ghanaians could be suffering from various degrees of mental illness.
The organisation believes this calls for enhanced cooperation in the area of infrastructure and technical support to revamp Ghana’s wobbling mental healthcare system.
Ghana’s Mental Health Authority has on countless occasions remarked negatively about the state affairs with respect to the heavily underfunded nature of the mental healthcare system of the country.
This, according to the authority, coupled with the drastic deterioration of pre-existing infrastructure does little to address the psychological needs of Ghanaians.
Speaking in an interview with Blessed Sogah on Foreign Affairs on JoyNews, World Health Organisation representative to Ghana, Professor Francis Kasalo expressed worry about the trend in Ghana.
“It is in Ghana for example out of the population of almost thirty million plus it is estimated that almost 2.4 million have a form of mental illness. That’s not a small number and if you are looking at that number why are we not investing in ensuring that those people receive appropriate care? So the numbers are huge” he said.
The WHO country representative says a major factor complicating the mental healthcare delivery in Ghana is the attitude of the general public to the health condition which is most likely to be treated as a light-hearted matter.
He also decried the penchant to socially tag persons suffering these illnesses as either being naturally difficult or having anger and, in extreme cases, spiritual problems.
In light of these developments, Professor Kasolo revealed that his outfit – WHO, Ghana is working out a comprehensive framework of partnership with the government of Ghana that will aim at reversing the deficiencies in the mental healthcare sector.
“People should understand that we can build capacities for people who we assume are difficult people to be able to access these services to understand why is it that they’re behaving like that?” he quizzed.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana Weightlifting Elective Congress: The truth and political conflict surrounding it
3 minutes -
7th Time’s the charm: National Women’s Summit and Expo celebrates another milestone
3 minutes -
GFA concludes training of club safety and security officers and regional sports security officers
13 minutes -
Teshie Mcdan Sports Complex to host Women’s FA Cup semis
22 minutes -
GFA sends latest reminder to GPL clubs to nominate directors to the autonomous league board
28 minutes -
The Triage Centre/Sangy Global appoints Patrick Yaw Boamah as Lifetime Mentor
34 minutes -
GFA introduces happy hour at four Ghana Premier League match cities
37 minutes -
Taste 68@68: GTA to showcase Ghana’s rich culinary culture
39 minutes -
Beeztrap KOTM hopeful of winning New Artiste award in 2025 TGMA
54 minutes -
Ekumfi MP commits to transforming education in his constituency
57 minutes -
Opoku-Agyemang honours Dr. Bernice Makafui Brempong
1 hour -
Special Prosecutor meets EOCO’s new leadership to strengthen anti-corruption efforts
2 hours -
World Cup 2026Q: Chad game is a final – Desmond Ofei
2 hours -
‘It’s easy to combine Black Stars and Satellites roles’ – Desmond Ofei
3 hours -
I have no interest in any executive position in NPP – Miracles Aboagye
3 hours