Mental Health Authority Moves to Shut Down Illegal Kumasi Spiritual Centre Housing 2,000 Patients

The Mental Health Authority (MHA) has initiated decisive steps to close an unlicensed spiritual healing center in Kumasi that is currently housing more than 2,000 individuals with mental health conditions. Dr. Eugene Kobla Dordoye, the Chief Executive of the Authority, revealed that the facility's operations have become illegal following the expiration of its operating license. This intervention underscores a growing effort by the MHA to regulate traditional and spiritual healing practices that often operate outside the bounds of modern medical standards and established human rights protocols in Ghana.

Serious concerns regarding the welfare of the patients prompted the enforcement action. Reports have emerged of inhumane treatment within the facility, specifically the practice of chaining individuals, which not only violates basic human rights but also severely hinders necessary medical intervention. Dr. Dordoye emphasized that while the center previously held a valid license, its current status prevents it from legally providing care. The presence of such a high number of residents makes this one of the largest unlicensed facilities the Authority has addressed, highlighting a significant gap in the oversight of mental healthcare providers in the Ashanti Region.

In addition to the planned closure, the MHA is using this case to educate the public on the dangers of seeking unregulated care for psychiatric conditions. Dr. Dordoye strongly advised against self-medicating or sending relatives to uncertified spiritual centers, urging families to seek professional medical guidance from accredited psychiatric hospitals and clinics instead. By insisting on strict adherence to national care standards, the Authority aims to ensure the dignity, safety, and proper rehabilitation of all patients, transitioning Ghana's mental health landscape toward a more clinical and compassionate framework.