Govt to establish more mental health facilities in Northern Ghana

The Mental Health Authority has announced that the government is in the process of establishing additional mental health facilities in the northern regions of Ghana.

The announcement was made during the 2025 edition of the Dcoded Show, organised by the University of Ghana’s Career and Counseling Centre in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson. Held under the theme “Fixing the Pieces When the Mind Splits,” the event focused on raising awareness about schizophrenia and advocating for improved mental health care.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Josephine Stiles Darko, Deputy Head of Communications at the Mental Health Authority, stated that the construction of two new psychiatric hospitals is underway as part of broader efforts to expand access to mental health services.

“There are two more psychiatric hospitals in the pipeline, with a focus on the northern regions. While we work to increase the number of mental health specialists, we are also integrating mental health care into district hospitals, so that all doctors receive some level of psychiatric training,” Dr. Darko said.

She added that, alongside infrastructure expansion, the Authority is also training health workers and conducting community mental health outreaches to ensure early detection and treatment of mental health conditions.