Ghana Mental Health Fund is dormant

Ghana’s Mental Health Fund, established under the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846) to finance mental healthcare and improve services nationwide, has remained dormant since its creation, mental health stakeholders have revealed.  

“We have a Mental Health Fund that has been set up, but there are no funds in it,” Professor Sammy Ohene, Board Chair of the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG), said during a stakeholder meeting with the Mental Health Authority (MHA) in Accra.   

The revelation has reignited concerns over Ghana’s capacity to address the growing burden of mental illness.  

The Fund was designed to provide sustainable financing for mental health services, research, infrastructure, and the welfare of patients and staff.  

However, more than a decade later, stakeholders say it has received no financial support from successive governments.  

Participants also raised alarm over the unavailability of psychotropic medications. Although funds were reportedly allocated for their procurement, no medicines have been purchased for 2025.  

Professor Pinaman Appau, former Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, confirmed the Fund’s inactivity, describing it as a major obstacle to implementing critical mental health programmes.  

She emphasized the need for government to allow the Authority to directly procure medications, stating, “Without financial resources, it is impossible to expand community mental health services, provide adequate medication, or rehabilitate patients.”  

Prof. Appau noted some progress in implementing the Mental Health Act, including the establishment of regional subcommittees and visiting committees, but stressed that underfunding remained a persistent challenge.  

The meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Eugene Dordoye, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the MHA, who outlined the Authority’s new organogram and introduced RESET, a framework to realign and strengthen the Authority’s programmes.  

Dr. Badimak Peter Yaro, Executive Director of BasicNeeds, assessed mental health services in Ghana, highlighting improvements in geographical access but pointing out that the quality of care and financial accessibility remain inadequate.  

“Financial access needs to be improved, especially if universal health coverage is to be realized in Ghana,” he said, adding that investment in mental health must be intentional and well-targeted.  

Ahead of the discussions, Mr. Humphrey Martey Kofie, Executive Secretary of MEHSOG, said the meeting aimed to “familiarize ourselves with the current Board members, engage with them and the management of the MHA, and share our experiences.”  

He noted that the engagement would provide insights to guide the Authority’s future decision-making in developing disability-inclusive policies and programmes that address the rights and needs of persons with mental health conditions.  

Participants stressed that the situation reflects the ongoing neglect of mental health within Ghana’s public health system.   

According to the World Health Organization, one in four Ghanaians will experience a mental or neurological disorder in their lifetime.  

The meeting was organised by MEHSOG in partnership with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations and the Africa Disability Institute.  

Source: GNA    

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