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The Ministry of Health has paid some 1.5 million Ghana cedis to the three Psychiatric hospitals in the country to offset some of the debt owed suppliers.

Citi News reported last week, that a three-year old debt owed by the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, forced suppliers of the facility to withdraw their services which subsequently caused the facility to halt admissions.

Government in its response promised to settle 1.6 million Ghana cedis, out of the four million cedis debt. 

However sources have revealed to Citi News that the Accra Psychiatric Hospital today [Tuesday], received five hundred and twenty thousand Ghana cedis out of the 1.5 million Ghana cedis it needs.

On the other hand, the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital received five hundred thousand Ghana cedis, whiles the Pantang Hospital also received four hundred and eighty thousand Ghana cedis of the total amount.

Speaking to Citi News, a member of the communications team at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Emmanuel Febiri, acknowledged receipt of the money. He indicated that the hospital authorities are however yet to decide how to disburse the money.

“Management received an indication yesterday [Monday], that they had received some money and it was confirmed today [Tuesday]. The money is not only for the Accra Psychiatric Hospital so definitely when we get our share, our management will sit down and see how far they can probably go to get and pay some of the debt off and see the way forward”.

Emmanuel Febiri was however unhappy with the state of mental healthcare in the country, adding that though the money was not enough to cater for the needs of the hospital, he hoped that the government will quickly process the release of the rest of the money

“As a country, it is time that we take mental healthcare to be part of our priority list because it looks like we’ve been neglected for a long period and that is how come we have to get to this situation”.