A renowned psychiatrist and faculty member at the Ghana and West Africa Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, Professor Sammy Ohene, has advocated for the imposition of taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to help fund Ghana's under-resourced Mental Health Fund.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 10% of Ghana's population suffers from some form of mental disorder. Professor Ohene argues that dedicating the proposed taxes to the Mental Health Fund, which he describes as woefully underfunded, would enable Ghana to build better mental healthcare infrastructure and hire more mental health professionals to deal with the country's growing mental health needs.
Professor Ohene said, "I know people are tired of more taxes but if we are aware that about 10% of Ghanaians suffer from some form of mental disorder, which affects not just the individual but also their families, and we recognize that this leads to reduced productivity and GDP, then we should be willing to pay a small amount like 5 pesewas when buying an alcohol bottle to support the Mental Health Fund."
Professor Ohene made these remarks at the maiden lecture to honour Professor E.F.B. Forster, described as the father of psychology in Ghana. The event was jointly organized by the Mental Health Authority, American Chamber-Ghana, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the WHO. Titled "Ten years of Mental Health Act: Measuring the impact", the lecture featured a panel discussion.
A former Chief Psychiatrist, Professor Joseph Bediako Asare, received a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contributions to Ghana's mental health practice and training.
Professor Ohene noted that despite having the Mental Health Act for 10 years, human rights abuses of people with mental health conditions persist in Ghana. He stressed the need for continuous education of key stakeholders like the judiciary, police and non-psychiatric doctors about the Mental Health Act.
He said, "Many non-psychiatric doctors don't know how to admit patients who need inpatient mental healthcare. Education will also teach people that you cannot force someone to get treatment just because you don't like their behavior, which should not be the case. We should educate the public to recognize mental disorder symptoms so prompt treatment, which makes a big difference, can be provided."
A former CEO of the Mental Health Authority, Professor Akwasi Osei, said Ghana needs more psychiatric doctors. He revealed that Ghana currently has only 65 such professionals but is hopeful that around 40 more will join in the next three years. He called for massive public education campaigns about mental health through the media, workplaces, mosques and churches.
In summary, Professor Ohene and other mental health experts argue that Ghana needs to dedicate more resources to its Mental Health Fund through taxes on products like alcohol and cigarettes. The country also needs more mental healthcare infrastructure, mental health professionals and mental health awareness campaigns to effectively address Ghana's growing mental health needs.
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