The Alliance for Mental Health and Development ((Mental Health Alliance) in fresh statement released on Thursday, August 10, 2022, following the report of a man stoned to death by a mentally challenged woman has blame government for the unfortunate incident
According to the Alliance, “The unfortunate incident that happened on Monday, 1st August 2022 could have been avoided had the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance committed financial resources to the Mental Health Fund for the provision of essential support and care for persons with mental conditions”
Read the full statement below
Re: Mentally challenged woman stones man to death at Kwame Nkrumah Circle
The attention of the Alliance for Mental Health and Development ((Mental Health Alliance) has been dawn to the story carried by myjoyonline.com https://www.myjoyonline.com/mentally-challenged-woman-stones- man-to-death-at-kwame-nkrumah-circle/ with the caption, ‘mentally Challenge woman stones man to death at Kwame Nkrumah circle’ on 1st August, 2022. This unfortunate and avoidable incident could have been prevented had the state and the relevant institutions prioritized mental health and given it the needed attention it deserves.
In 2012, the Government of Ghana enacted the mental health law – Mental Health Act 2012, Act 846, to address the numerous challenges affecting the quality of mental health service delivery in Ghana. The Mental Health Act 2012, Act 846 provided for the establishment of the Mental Health Authority with the responsibility of (a) proposing mental health policies and ensuring their implementation; (b) implement mental health policies; (c) promote mental health and provide humane care; and (d) promote a culturally appropriate, affordable, accessible, and equitably distributed, mental health care.
To ensure that the Mental Health Authority discharge its mandate effectively, Section 24 of the Act provided for the establishment of Mental Health Review Tribunal, while Section 34 provided for the establishment of Visiting Committees for each region. Additionally, Section 80 of Act 846 provides for the establishment of a Mental Health Fund.
Since the passage of the Mental Health Act in 2012, there has not been funding committed to the Mental Health Fund to ensure efficient and effective mental health service delivery in Ghana. The committees that were supposed to provide critical mental health support services at the district, regional, and national levels have still not been formed. This have made mental health service delivery in the country difficult. Several efforts have been made by various CSOs, NGOs, and other non-state actors using research findings and evidence such as the Investment Case for Mental Health in Ghana to inform duty bearers about the benefits of investing in mental health and the consequences of not doing so. Despite these advocacy efforts, official response has been slow.
The Mental Health Alliance is of the view that the unfortunate incident that happened on Monday, 1st August 2022 could have been avoided had the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance committed financial resources to the Mental Health Fund for the provision of essential support and care for persons with mental conditions. A well-resourced mental health sector would have ensured professional evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of persons with mental health conditions in the street back to their families and communities. Additionally, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are also responsible for persons with mental conditions within their catchment areas as stipulated in Section 73(4). of the Act.
Whilst the Mental Health Alliance congratulates the Ghana Police Service for swiftly rescuing the woman from instant mob injustice, we once again call on Government of Ghana as a matter of urgency to:
- Speedily establish the Mental Health Fund
- Establish the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Visiting Committees
The Ministry of Finance should prioritize the release of approved budgetary allocations to the Mental Health Authority and Psychiatric/specialized Hospitals to enable them to provide the needed mental health care to the good people of Ghana, to prevent the occurrence of this incidence in the future.
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
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