PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO COMMISSIONS A NEW PSYCHIATRIC BUILDING

The President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the state-of-the-art building for the Psychiatric Department at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The building, called ‘The Melody’ is the latest facility, appropriately designed and constructed for the delivery of mental health services in Ghana.

‘The Melody’ building has a Waiting area, Consulting rooms, Offices, Conference and Lecture halls, a Treatment room, and a Pharmacy, in a serene environment to enhance patient care.

The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu in his remarks at the ceremony said the Ministry has made great advances in enhancing access to mental healthcare treatments across the country.

He mentioned that strengthening Ghana’s system of mental healthcare has been made possible by the passage of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 842), and has paved the way for the Mental Health Authority (MHA) to be established, with the goal of building a mentally healthy Ghana where everyone has access to high-quality mental health care.

“Access to mental health services varies widely and this issue needs to be resolved by enhancing community mental health services, assuring a sufficient supply of psychotropic medications and other goods, as well as human resources for health at all levels,” he added.

Hon. Agyeman-Manu urged all to be responsible in addressing the rising problem of polysubstance usage, including cocaine, marijuana and abuse of drugs such as tramadol.

He concluded by expressing his appreciation to the CEO of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah as well as all the staff and stakeholders who worked diligently to achieve this project and urged them to ensure proper maintenance of the facility to sustain its benefits for the people of Ghana.

Present at the occasion was the Chief of Staff; Hon Frema Opare, The Minister for Education: Dr. Yaw Adutwum, the Vice-Chancellor University of Ghana Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Board Chairman Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; Dr. David Nkansa-Dwamena The CEO Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah Dean of the Medical School: Prof Alfred Yawson, Provost of the College of Health Sciences; Prof Julius Fobil Our Traditional Leaders, Heads of Departments, Staff and  the Department of Psychiatry.