Dr Vincent Agyapong, Chairman of Association of
Ghanaian Professionals in Ireland (AGPI), on Monday said Ghana could achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) if it is committed to its most vulnerable citizens, especially the mentally challenged.
"At the heart of the myriad of challenges confronting effective mental health delivery in Ghana is the old age problem of stigmatization, which affects not only the patients but their families and health workers, including psychiatrists", he added.
Dr Agyapong made the observation at the launching of the maiden Inter- Medical School Public Speaking Competition in Accra.
The competition on the topic: "Why Should Mental Health Care Be a Priority For A Developing Country Like Ghana", is to promote psychiatry as a career option for Ghanaian Medical Students.
Two contestants each from University of Ghana Medical School and School of Medical Sciences (SMS), University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, participated in the competition.
Contestants from SMS won and for their prize received a trophy and a scholarship package to undertake a four-week elective placement at Saint
Patrick's University Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, while their colleagues embark on a trip to Saint John of God Hospital in the same country.
On mental health care, he said that area of medicine had not been given the deserved attention in Ghana, lack of political will to modernise coupled with limited availability of Psychiatrists in the country had had devastating consequences on the sector.
Dr Agyapong noted that poor mental health service delivery in the country had impacted negatively on the image of the nation both locally and internationally adding, "We identified that sector in Ghana which needed
significant reform and seek partners both locally and internationally to bring about positive change".
He pledged the commitment of the association to transform the seemingly brain-drain into brain gain and instil in all Ghanaians in the Diaspora the sense of professionalism, patriotism and national identity.
Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, who read a speech on behalf of Vice President John Dramani Mahama, said government welcomed the
initiative to promote psychiatry as a fulfilled career option for Ghanaian medical students.
He commended the association for the programme and urged other Ghanaians in the diaspora to think of what they could do to advance Ghana's growth, prosperity and extend the competition to all other medical schools in the country.
Vice President Mahama said the myriad of challenges confronting mental health in the country was inadequate budgetary allocation and expressed the hope that this would change in future.
"Government is working with stakeholders to resolve problems affecting mental health care in the country", he added.
Dr Kwesi Osei, Chief Psychiatrist of Ghana Health Service, said the competition would encourage students to develop public speaking skills and habits in their career.
He said the competition would also inform people on the value of mental health to a developing nation in the context of medical students.
The contestants said Ghana needed to prioritise mental health care to produce more human resource for the country's socio-economic development.