Ghana to Integrate Mental Health into Primary Healthcare – Health Minister Akandoh Announces Major Reforms

Ghana’s Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced a comprehensive plan to integrate mental health services into the country’s primary healthcare system. This initiative, part of the 2025 Purple Month campaign by the Mental Health Authority, aims to improve access to mental healthcare and promote mental wellness across the country.

Speaking at the official launch of Purple Month in Accra on Thursday , 1st May, Minister Akandoh outlined a series of measures that the incoming John Dramani Mahama administration intends to implement to strengthen the nation’s mental health framework.

“We will review and integrate mental health services into primary healthcare so that care is brought closer to our communities and becomes a routine part of health-seeking behavior,” he stated.

Among the key initiatives is the establishment of a modern mental health hospital in the northern part of Ghana. Existing facilities nationwide will also be refurbished to ensure equitable access to quality care, he added.

The Minister further emphasized plans to boost the capacity of the country’s two main psychiatric hospitals.

“We will adequately resource the Accra and Pantang Psychiatric Hospitals to enable them to deliver more effective, responsive, and comprehensive mental health services,” he said.

To support these efforts, the Mental Health Authority Act will be reviewed to facilitate the training, recruitment, and retention of community mental health officers—seen as critical personnel for delivering care to underserved and rural areas.

Additionally, the government will establish a national mental health hotline to provide Ghanaians with access to professional support and e-counseling services at the district level.