The Mental Health Authority needs money to improve services, according to Janet Amegatcher.
Janet Naa Karley Amegatcher, Director of MindFreedom Ghana and a member of the MHA board, has backed calls for the MHA to be adequately funded to carry out its policies.
She emphasized that adequate funding for the authority's policy development function would allow for the successful delivery of critical services to people suffering from mental health and psychosocial disorders.
Mrs. Amegatcher expressed concern about a lack of funds to ensure the establishment of high-quality mental health care for mental health sufferers in an interview with the Ghana News Agency about her reappointment to the Ghana MHA board, as well as the stalling of the formation of visiting committees to gather information on people with mental health problems.
"The board has a lot of issues and things to do," she explained, "but there's no money to run the policies."
"For example, visiting committees must be formed, and actual visits must be made to see what's going on in the places where we have our sufferers."
"Unfortunately, most of the time, there is no money allocated for the running of these things, so these things will be on paper but not implemented," she added.
"I'll hope that this time around, this [funding] is made available so that the board can also put committees in place and ensure that visitations are done and the proper running of the places that care for our vulnerable people is taken care of." Mrs. Amegatcher, who was reappointed to the board of MindFreedom Ghana, asked stakeholders, particularly philanthropists and non-governmental organizations, to help the authorities provide enhanced mental health services to those suffering from mental illnesses.
"I am delighted to be a member of the Mental Health Authority's governing board, where I can contribute to policy formulations to promote development in mental health care in Ghana," she said.
Ghana's Mental Health Authority was established by an Act of Parliament, the Mental Health Act 846 of 2012, to design, advocate for, and implement mental health policies in Ghana, as well as to provide culturally appropriate, humane, and inclusive mental health treatment.
Officials believe that tremendous progress has been made in Ghana's mental healthcare since the formation of the governing board, despite concerns about limited funds and resources for effective policy creation and implementation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dan Taylor, Executive Secretary of MindFreedom Ghana, congratulated the organization's director, saying, "Congratulations, Mrs. Janet Amegatcher, on her appointment as a member of the newly inaugurated 11-Member Governing Board of Mental Health Authority."
"We pledge our encouragement and support for you to carry out your responsibilities diligently and assiduously."
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