Ghana has emerged as one of West Africa’s most proactive countries in addressing mental health, yet experts warn that chronic underfunding, social stigma, and a shortage of trained professionals continue to limit access to care for millions of citizens.
With an estimated one in five Ghanaians experiencing some form of mental health challenge in their lifetime, conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance-use disorders are becoming increasingly visible, particularly among young people facing unemployment, economic hardship, and social pressure.
Unlike many countries in the region, Ghana has a dedicated Mental Health Act, passed in 2012, which provides a legal framework for protecting the rights of persons living with mental illness and integrating mental health services into primary healthcare. However, implementation remains uneven across the country.
“Ghana has the laws and policies, but mental health still receives less than one percent of the national health budget,” said Dr. Kwaku Asare, a mental health policy analyst in Accra. “That gap between policy and practice is where the real challenge lies.”
Progress in Community-Based Care
One of Ghana’s notable achievements is the shift away from institutionalised care toward community-based mental health services. Through the Mental Health Authority, psychiatric nurses and community mental health officers are deployed to districts to provide basic assessment, follow-up, and referral services.
This approach has helped reduce pressure on the country’s three main psychiatric hospitals—Accra, Pantang, and Ankaful—which have long struggled with overcrowding.
“Community care has brought mental health closer to the people,” said Ama Boateng, a senior psychiatric nurse in the Eastern Region. “But many districts still lack essential medications, transportation, and trained staff.”
According to health officials, Ghana has fewer than 50 psychiatrists serving a population of over 30 million, with most specialists concentrated in urban centres, leaving rural communities largely underserved.
Stigma and Cultural Beliefs Persist
Despite policy progress, stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to care. Mental illness is still widely perceived as a spiritual or moral failing, pushing many families to seek help from prayer camps or traditional healers before considering medical treatment.
Human rights groups have raised concerns over reports of chaining, forced fasting, and abuse in some unregulated prayer camps, despite government efforts to enforce standards.
“Stigma delays treatment and worsens outcomes,” said Josephine Mensimah, a mental health advocate and social worker. “People are afraid to speak up because they fear discrimination at work, in school, or even within their families.”
Youth and Substance Abuse Concerns
Mental health professionals in Ghana are also sounding the alarm over rising substance abuse among young people, particularly the misuse of tramadol, alcohol, and other psychoactive substances.
Experts link the trend to unemployment, academic pressure, and limited access to counselling services in schools and universities.
“We are seeing younger patients presenting with severe mental health conditions that could have been prevented with early support,” Dr. Asare noted.
Calls for Stronger Investment
Advocates are urging the government to increase funding, expand mental health insurance coverage, and prioritise public education to normalise conversations around mental wellbeing.
They also stress the need for stronger collaboration between government agencies, civil society organisations, and the media.
“Mental health is not a luxury; it is a development necessity,” said Boateng. “If Ghana wants a productive population, it must invest in the mental wellbeing of its people.”
As Ghana continues to position itself as a regional leader in mental health reform, experts say sustained political will, adequate funding, and community engagement will determine whether policy gains translate into meaningful change for ordinary citizens.
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