As the world observed World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2025, BasicNeeds-Ghana and the Alliance for Mental Health and Development (Mental Health Alliance) made a passionate call for Ghana to prioritize Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) during catastrophes and emergencies. This year’s global theme, “Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies,” highlights a growing global concern: the urgent need to support the psychological and emotional well-being of people affected by crises. In a press statement, the Mental Health Alliance noted that Ghana has not been spared from disasters, from perennial floods, droughts, and fires to building collapses, road accidents, and conflicts. These incidents, the Alliance said, have left “individuals, families, and communities with lasting traumatic, psychological, and emotional injuries and scars.” Despite efforts to provide food, shelter, and water during emergencies, mental health support is often neglected. “While much attention and effort are given to physical survival, the psychological toll of such crises, though profound and often invisible, is mostly neglected,” the statement emphasized. The Alliance expressed deep concern about how vulnerable groups,  including women, children, persons with disabilities, and people already living with mental health conditions, are disproportionately affected. “Without MHPSS, recovery remains incomplete,” it stated. “Families struggle to rebuild livelihoods, children’s education is disrupted, and communities remain fragile.” Calling for urgent action, the Alliance appealed to the Government of Ghana to: Integrate MHPSS into disaster preparedness and response frameworks such as NADMO and the MMDAs. Include MHPSS experts among first responders in emergencies. Increase investment in mental health within Ghana’s health budget. Equip frontline health workers and humanitarian actors with skills in psychosocial first aid. Strengthen community-based mental health support systems. Combat stigma through community-level awareness campaigns. “Addressing the mental health and psychosocial needs of survivors is not optional — it is essential for individual healing, family stability, and community resilience,” the statement added. The Alliance also commended Ghana’s progress, particularly the passage of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846) and the integration of mental health into primary health care. However, it warned that limited resources, urban-centered services, and lingering stigma continue to hinder access — especially in times of crisis. “As we observe World Mental Health Day 2025, let us reaffirm our commitment to make provision of mental health and psychosocial support part and parcel of our health and wellbeing needs,” the statement concluded. “No one should be left behind in times of crisis.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (N&MC) has issued a stern warning to all students and practitioners in the field, urging them to refrain from any form of unprofessional conduct, especially on social media platforms. In an official statement, the Council emphasized that it will not hesitate to invoke disciplinary measures, including suspension or revocation of licenses, against anyone found guilty of breaching the professional Code of Conduct. This decisive stance follows a series of widely circulated publications and videos featuring trainees, nurses’ assistants, nurses, and midwives that have been trending on various social media platforms. According to the Council, such content is grossly unprofessional and stands in direct violation of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct governing the nursing and midwifery professions in Ghana. The statement highlighted several concerns, including the misuse of the nursing and midwifery uniform to create unauthorized social media content, the use of abusive or offensive language directed at leadership and other stakeholders, and the sharing of misleading or unverified health information under the guise of professional advice. The Council has encouraged stakeholders to report any such misconduct for prompt and appropriate action, stressing that any behavior undermining professional values tarnishes the image of the profession and erodes public trust in the healthcare system. Reiterating its exclusive mandate, the Nursing and Midwifery Council reminded the public that only it has the authority to accredit institutions and license individuals to practice as nurse assistants, nurses, and midwives in Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

Ghana has once again underscored its steadfast dedication to refugee protection and durable solutions on the global stage, making its position clear during the 76th Annual Plenary Session of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee in Geneva. Leading the Ghanaian delegation, Minister for Interior Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak highlighted the country’s enduring commitment to the ideals of the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR). He emphasized that Ghana remains resolute in pursuing sustainable interventions that benefit both refugees and their host communities. During his plenary address, the Minister outlined Ghana’s progress in working collaboratively with countries of origin to ensure the effective implementation of durable solutions, including addressing their legal aspects. He also spotlighted the Ghana Refugee Agribusiness Sustainability Programme (GRASP), a flagship initiative in partnership with UNHCR that creates sustainable livelihoods for refugees and local residents alike. Ghana’s ongoing efforts extend beyond national borders, with strengthened cooperation among neighboring countries to develop a sub-regional strategy. This approach focuses on bolstering national security, safeguarding refugee rights, and enabling lasting, cross-border solutions. In his concluding remarks, Minister Mubarak expressed Ghana’s appreciation to outgoing UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, commending his exceptional leadership and commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of refugees worldwide. Ghana’s renewed pledge at the UNHCR Executive Committee session reaffirms the nation’s long-standing legacy of hospitality, humanitarianism, and leadership in advancing peace and stability across the sub-region. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Executive Director of BasicNeeds-Ghana, Dr. Peter Badimak Yaro, has participated in a high-level stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Mental Health Authority in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The meeting created a platform for key actors in the sector to deliberate on strategies aimed at strengthening mental health service delivery across Ghana. Dr. Yaro delivered a presentation highlighting BasicNeeds-Ghana’s ongoing initiatives to improve mental health and development at the community level. His intervention underscored the importance of community-based approaches in addressing mental health challenges. The engagement brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including the Ghana Health Service, the Ghana Psychiatrists Association, the Ghana Psychology Association, directors of the three psychiatric hospitals (Accra, Pantang, and Ankaful), the Mental Health Society of Ghana, Mind Freedom Ghana, and officials from the Ministry of Health. Also present were representatives from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), who serve as funders of the programme and other mental health-related activities in the country. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has won unanimous acclaim from African Heads of State during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for spearheading the landmark Africa Health Sovereignty Summit held in Accra this August. The summit, hailed as a pivotal moment for Africa’s future, reinvigorated discussions on the continent’s journey toward health self-sufficiency and resilience. Leaders at the UNGA noted that the summit could not have come at a more critical time. With international healthcare funding shrinking, highlighted by the United States’ announcement of an £8 billion reduction in overseas assistance, the urgency for Africa to pursue its own solutions has never been greater. In a special meeting of the Committee of Heads of State and Government of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), attended by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), leaders adopted an ambitious roadmap. Central to their plan is the creation of regional drug manufacturing hubs to produce 60% of Africa’s pharmaceutical needs by 2040. This initiative is expected to drive down drug costs and generate thousands of jobs across the continent. President Mahama detailed Ghana’s concrete steps toward health sovereignty, including removing the cap on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to broaden healthcare access, and the upcoming ‘Big Push’ initiative, which will channel substantial new investments into the health sector starting next year. “The Accra Reset is driving Africa forward,” Mahama affirmed, reiterating his vision of an Africa where nations hold the reins of their own healthcare destinies. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Ashanti Region has earned a grim reputation as home to Ghana’s deadliest roads, with a staggering 3,131 lives lost to road crashes over the past five years and seven months. According to the National Road Safety Authority, between January 2020 and December 2024, the region recorded 2,831 deaths from road accidents. The situation worsened in 2025, as 441 more people lost their lives between January and July alone. This recent toll represents 25 percent of the national road fatalities, making Ashanti not only the region with the highest number of deaths but also the highest number of injuries. These alarming statistics came to light during the second road safety journalism training, organised by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) in partnership with Vital Strategies (VS). The training, which focused on speed management and helmet standards, is part of a broader project aimed at supporting advocacy for new road traffic legislation and improved motorcycle helmet standards in Ghana. Kwasi Agyemang Boateng, the Regional Road Safety Director, described the region’s road safety situation as “deadly” in an interview with Kumasi FM’s Elisha Adarkwah. He stressed the urgent need for intensified road safety education and stricter enforcement within the transport system. Boateng highlighted poor road infrastructure, driver behaviour, and traffic violations as major contributors to the crisis, urging for engineering solutions to address these challenges. Enock Jengre, a Programme Officer at the LRC, explained that the training was designed to empower journalists and news editors to use their platforms to promote road safety and help reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities. While accurate reporting on road accidents is important, Ms Mavis Obeng Mensah, Communications Director at the Blomberge Philanthropic Initiative for Global Road Safety Ghana (BIGRS), encouraged journalists to adopt solutions journalism and focus on ways to address the underlying issues of road safety in Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com