Govt to Introduce Tele-Psychiatry to Boost Mental Health as Pantang Hospital Marks 50 Years
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Eugene Kobla Dordoye, has announced plans to introduce tele-psychiatry as part of government’s effort to strengthen mental healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary of the Pantang Mental Hospital on Friday, August 29, 2025 in Accra , Dr. Dordoye said the initiative forms part of the government’s “Resetting Ghana Agenda” in health.
“What I bring on board is a continuation with sharpening priorities like universal primary mental health care, tele-psychiatry, and comprehensive training with sub-specialization,” he said.
He explained that tele-psychiatry would make mental healthcare accessible to people in every part of the country, including remote communities.
“In fact, among all tele-health services, tele-psychiatry works best. A senior specialist can see the patient via video with a younger doctor and provide guidance. Because we don’t usually examine people by touch in psychiatry, tele-psychiatry fits perfectly. No Ghanaian should be too far from care,” Dr. Dordoye emphasized.
The Acting CEO also underscored the need for sustainable financing of mental healthcare, stressing that the Mental Health Fund created under Act 846 of 2012 must finally be operationalized.
“Parliament created the Mental Health Fund in 2012. Thirteen years on, we are yet to see the fund. We need what I call vitamin M — money, to provide mental health care,” he said.
He further paid tribute to his predecessors, including Prof. Akwesi Osei and Prof. Pinaman Appau, for laying the foundation for accessible and community-based psychiatric services.
“Our work at the Mental Health Authority is not a change of vision, but a continuation of building universal, quality mental health care, accelerated by national priorities,” Dr. Dordoye stated.
Pantang Hospital at 50
The Acting Medical Director of Pantang Mental Hospital, Dr. Maalug Yennusom, welcomed dignitaries to the Golden Jubilee celebration said Pantang, one of the three psychiatric hospitals in Ghana, continues to serve as a tertiary referral center for patients across the country and beyond, including Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Benin.
“Over the past three years alone, the hospital has provided services to over 62,247 patients in the psychiatric sector and 117,756 general medical services at the outpatient level due to our unique dual services in psychiatry and physical health care,” Dr. Yensusom disclosed.
He, however, lamented challenges such as dilapidated infrastructure, land encroachment, inadequate staffing, and poor security.
“The government began constructing a wall around the hospital in 2020, but it is only about 30 percent complete. We call on the authorities to help us finish it to enhance security,” he appealed.
Dr. Yennusom also announced a year-long lineup of activities to mark the anniversary, including health walks, clean-up exercises, public lectures, exhibitions, and a fundraising dinner in August 2026 to support the hospital’s facelift project.
Madina MP Donates GH¢100,000
Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu, pledged a seed fund of GH¢100,000 to support the renovation and expansion of Pantang Hospital.
“As a small but important step towards improving safety and security across the facility, my office has already donated 50 street lights this week. Today, I am committing GH¢100,000 as seed money to the hospital’s fundraising efforts,” the MP said.
Mr. Sosu recounted several interventions he has made in the health sector within his constituency over the past four years, including donations to the Kekele Polyclinic, Madina Polyclinic, Oyarifa Health Centre, and the Madina Health Directorate.
He also emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health nationwide, as he earlier donated street lights to the Hospital.
“We all look healthy, but a lot of us are not really okay. A lot of mad people are in town. We pray that we’ll pay attention to our mental health,” he stressed.
He expressed optimism that the vision of former President John Dramani Mahama to transform Pantang Hospital into a modern psychiatric facility would be realized within the next four years.
Solidarity Calls
Other stakeholders who delivered solidarity messages urged government and the public to consider mental health a key component of healthcare and to support existing facilities to provide quality services.
The 50th anniversary celebration is being marked under the theme “Honoring Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future.”
History of Pantang Hospital
The hospital, established in 1975 as a 500-bed facility with a Pan-African Mental Health Village in mind, has been providing critical psychiatric care to Ghanaians for decades.
Originally built to serve as a hub for mental health care in West Africa, Pantang Hospital has faced significant challenges, including inadequate funding and infrastructure decay.
Despite these challenges, the hospital remains a vital institution in Ghana’s mental health landscape, offering inpatient and outpatient services, rehabilitation programs, and training for mental health professionals.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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