Chained and Forgotten: The Reality of Mental Health Care in Ghana

Human Rights Watch clarified an upsetting situation in Ghana in October 2023. Shackling people with mental health issues was outlawed in 2017, but some faith-based institutions still carry out the practice. Known as "prayer camps," these facilities are breaking the law by keeping people in cruel circumstances and chains.

Human Rights Watch found many shackled people in these facilities, some of whom had been held without charge or trial for an extended period. Due to insufficient funding for the required enforcement tools, the government's promise to enforce the prohibition has failed.

The food is poor, the surroundings are filthy, and there is no access to healthcare in these horrible camps. Due to deeply held beliefs that curses or witchcraft are the root causes of mental health problems, people with psychosocial disabilities are subjected to these severe conditions.

Human Rights Watch highlights the critical necessity for quick response. Ghana has to invest in community mental health services and provide resources for the ban's enforcement. Then and only then can the bonds be broken and people with mental health disorders be given the respect they so richly deserve. It serves as a sobering reminder of how much work still needs to be done in Ghana to protect the rights and welfare of people with mental health issues.