Sarkodie, Yvonne Okoro sign GHOne News #MentalHealth petition

Two of Ghana’s top celebrities, Sarkodie and Yvonne Okoro, have shown their support for GHOne News’ petition asking the government to be more proactive in dealing with the challenges facing the Accra Psychiatric hospital.

GHOne News launched an online petition addressed to President John Dramani Mahama, to as a matter of urgency, salvage the dilapidated facility and resolve the financial issues facing its administration.

The nurses and other care-givers at the hospital have since Monday October 31 embarked on strike after months of protesting the poor and dangerous working conditions they have had to deal with.

Following the strike, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Organisation, Doctor Akwasi Osei told GHOne News in an exclusive interview the government’s slow attitude towards resolving financial and administrative issues at the hospital is a reflection on the nation’s attitude towards issues of mental health in general.

“The nation does not take mental health seriously because if we did, the Accra Psychiatric Hospital would not be in this much mess,” he said.

Sarkodie in a tweet said action must be taken to ensure drugs are provided to the patients.

Let's all do Dis > pls sign this online petition 4 gov't to send drugs to the Accra psychiatric hospital???????? > https://t.co/e13NDUjyg1 pic.twitter.com/2w4SUuBXZa

— TheHighest (@sarkodie) November 6, 2016

Yvonne Okoro also told her 345,000 followers to support the cause.

Let's get help for the Accra Psychiatric hospital..pls sign ths petition https://t.co/TjYCMlw9PV pic.twitter.com/0ygiRIk8mS

— yvonne okoro (@yvonneokoro) November 6, 2016

Meanwhile, in an interview with Sunrise FM in Koforidua a day after the nurses strike was declared, the President said he was not aware of the hospital’s challenges but will work towards ensuring they are resolved.

“It hasn’t come to my attention but I do know that the area of mental health is one of the areas we need to focus our attention.

“We passed the new mental health bill and government is committed to its implementation. We will take immediate steps to resolve the issue at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital."

Meanwhile, the hospital has started checking some of the patients into other facilities.