About MHA Ghana

A healthy population is a wealthy population. Mental health is total health. It is a right and a goal and it is, indeed, central to the socioeconomic development of a country. The first Mental Health Policy for Ghana was developed in 1994, revised in 1996, and since then significant changes have occurred in the global, national and health sector landscapes which have impacted on mental health.

The Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846) culminated in the establishment of the Mental Health Authority (MHA). Significant progress has been made in delivery of mental health services across Ghana, though many challenges persist. The policy views mental health as an important indicator of the health status of the people living in the country.

While focusing on community care, the policy sets out the new direction for the general improvement in the quality of mental health of the citizenry and maps out the institutional framework including the Mental Health Tribunal, Visiting Committees, District Mental Health Subcommittees and appointment of District Mental Health Coordinators.

About the Hospital

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital, established in 1906, is the oldest and largest psychiatric hospital in Ghana. Located in Accra, the Greater Accra Region, it serves as the primary centre for mental health treatment, research, and training in the country.

The hospital provides inpatient and outpatient services, emergency psychiatric care, rehabilitation and reintegration support, and serves as a key teaching facility for medical and nursing students.