Nearly one in four adults aged 40 and above in parts of Ghana’s Ashanti Region are at risk of developing dementia, a finding experts say highlights a growing public health challenge and exposes gaps in the country’s care system.
The figure of 23.4% comes from a cross-sectional study involving more than 800 participants conducted between 2023 and 2025 as part of a UK-Ghana research collaboration on non-communicable diseases.
The research was led by Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of Huddersfield, Dr Precious Adadidudu, who is also the Principal Investigator on a project seeking to develop a structured dementia referral and care pathway for Ghana.
According to Dr Adadidudu, while dementia is becoming increasingly common in low and middle-income countries, the condition remains poorly understood in Ghana due to stigma, misinformation and spiritual interpretations that often delay diagnosis and treatment.
“Ghana currently does not have clear data on how many people are living with dementia, but this study gives us important insight into the scale of the problem,” he said.
Caregivers under pressure
Beyond the statistics, the research highlights the growing burden placed on families caring for persons living with dementia.
Many caregivers, experts say, are forced to abandon jobs, sacrifice income and deal with emotional and financial stress while trying to support relatives with the condition.
Dr Adadidudu said some caregivers experience severe exhaustion because of the demands associated with long-term care.
“Some are burnt out, some are stressed, and many have had to sacrifice their livelihoods,” he noted.
When dementia is mistaken for witchcraft
Experts say dementia in Ghana is not only a medical concern but also a social challenge, with misconceptions exposing many elderly people to discrimination and abuse.
Symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and behavioural changes are sometimes interpreted as signs of witchcraft or spiritual attacks rather than a health condition requiring medical attention.
In some communities, elderly persons—particularly women—have been accused of causing misfortune following deaths, illnesses or family difficulties.
Some victims face isolation, abuse or forced displacement, while others end up seeking refuge in places such as the Gambaga witches’ camp after being rejected by their communities.
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