Silent killers surge with NCDs now behind nearly half of deaths in Ghana - Health Minister

Kwabena Mintah-Akandoh, Minister of Health, warned on Monday on PM Express on Joy News that "About 42 to 45% of our mortalities are attributable to non-communicable diseases." He stated that Ghana is facing a growing public health crisis, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now accounting for nearly half of all deaths.

The Minister's comments come at a time when Ghana's health system is grappling with a dual burden of infectious diseases and a sharp increase in chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. He said that the country must urgently shift focus to early detection and prevention to curb the rising toll of these "silent killers." He explained that access to primary health care will be granted to any Ghanaian identified by a driver's license, Ghana card, passport, or national health insurance card.

The government is rolling out a renewed focus on free primary healthcare to improve access and encourage early diagnosis. The government plans to move into the homes of Ghanaians to do simple screening. The strategy is part of a broader health reform agenda aimed at strengthening prevention, early detection, and treatment. The Minister said that if the government is unable to prevent or detect diseases on time, and it gets to a complicated stage, there's another policy called Mahama Cares to be able to save you.