Heart disease and stroke have accounted for more deaths in Ghanaian hospitals than any other recorded cause since 2016, a physician specialist has disclosed, underscoring the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.
Dr Florence Akumiah, a Physician Specialist and Cardiology Fellow in training at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, made the disclosure at a media engagement in Accra on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to mark World Heart Day. World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29 under the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat,” with this year’s campaign centring on the message “Heart Disease Can Hide in Plain Sight”.
Cardiovascular Disease: A Growing Public Health Challenge
According to Dr Akumiah, cardiovascular diseases continue to pose a major public health challenge in Ghana, affecting people across different age groups and increasingly being detected among younger adults. She said about 45 percent of deaths in Ghana were attributable to non-communicable diseases, while cardiovascular diseases accounted for approximately 18 percent of total deaths, citing data from the World Health Organisation.
The figures demonstrate the need for stronger preventive measures, early detection and improved management of cardiovascular risk factors, she noted.
The burden extends beyond hospital walls. National data from the Ghana Health Service’s District Health Information Management System show that reported stroke cases more than doubled between 2016 and 2021, rising from 10,732 to 23,009—a 61 percent increase—with cases rising across all ages and locations. A study published in 2025 confirmed that the rate of stroke in 2021 was 61 percent higher than in 2016, with the increase particularly pronounced among people under 50.
One in Five Adults Living with Hypertension
Dr Akumiah drew attention to the prevalence of hypertension in Ghana, describing it as one of the country’s major cardiovascular health concerns. She said the 2023 Ghana WHO STEPS survey, the country’s first nationwide study of NCD risk factors, covered 5,438 adults across all 16 regions and found that about one in five Ghanaian adults had hypertension, translating into approximately 3.7 million people living with the condition.
“Women recorded a higher prevalence of hypertension at 25.3 percent compared with 18.2 percent among men, while hypertension increased with age and was more prevalent in urban areas,” she said.
The survey also pointed to significant levels of overweight and obesity, raised cholesterol and blood sugar, as well as low levels of physical activity. More than half of the women surveyed were overweight, and one in four was classified as obese.
A Silent Crisis: Most Don’t Know They Have It
The physician specialist said the situation was particularly concerning because many people living with hypertension were unaware they had the condition. She explained that more young people were now reporting to health facilities with serious complications associated with high blood pressure, including stroke, kidney disease and hypertensive emergencies, while many remained unaware of their condition.
“Even though there seems to be some awareness about hypertension, translating it into effective control is still the problem that we need to address,” she said.
Professor Alfred Doku, a Consultant Surgeon and Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 2026 World Heart Day, has warned that 70 percent of Ghanaians with hypertension are not aware of their condition. Among those who are aware, only a few are on medication, and among those on medication, only a few have their blood pressure controlled.
“This is what is driving the heart diseases. This is what is driving the stroke, and this is what is driving the kidney failure in Ghana. That is why the number of people dying from these diseases is increasing because the risk factor is silent,” he said.
A Cascade of Missed Opportunities
The gap between diagnosis and control is stark. Research indicates that just 5 percent of hypertensive individuals in Ghana who are on treatment have their blood pressure adequately controlled. More than 70 percent of hypertensive individuals in Ghana are unaware of their condition, and nearly half of those diagnosed show signs of end-organ damage at the time of diagnosis—a reflection of how long hypertension can go unnoticed.
The situation is further complicated by the coexistence of multiple risk factors. Dr Akumiah noted that cardiovascular risk factors often occurred together, increasing a person’s chances of developing heart attacks, strokes and other complications.
The Salt Connection
The 2023 STEPS survey found that about nine in 10 people added salt while cooking and also at the table, while about 23 percent regularly consumed very salty processed foods. Dr Akumiah said changing work and eating patterns had increased exposure to hidden salt in processed foods, seasoning powders, stock cubes, instant noodles, canned foods, salted and smoked fish and other commonly consumed products.
Physical inactivity was another concern, she said, particularly as more people engaged in sedentary work. Tobacco use also required attention, especially among young people increasingly moving from conventional cigarettes to shisha and vaping. Alcohol consumption was also significant, with about 31 percent of men surveyed actively drinking and a considerable number reporting binge drinking.
Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, emphasised that diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption could progressively damage the cardiovascular system long before an individual became aware of the danger.
A Younger Population at Risk
Unlike many Western countries where deaths from heart disease and stroke occur predominantly among older people, cardiovascular disease is affecting younger people in Ghana and across Africa. “People think that heart disease is for the old and the rich. That is also not the case,” Dr Akumiah said.
The data support her concern. The 61 percent increase in stroke cases between 2016 and 2021 occurred across all age groups, with a notable rise among people under 50.
Government Response and Treatment Gaps
The government has taken steps to strengthen cardiovascular care. In July 2026, President John Dramani Mahama commissioned a new ultramodern Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, funded through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares). The facility replaces the previous laboratory destroyed by fire in March 2025 and is expected to enhance the hospital’s capacity to diagnose and treat heart conditions.
The government has also announced plans to construct state-of-the-art cardiology centres at three teaching hospitals—Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye, and Tamale Teaching Hospital—to expand access to specialised cardiac care across the country.
The Ghana Heart Initiative, launched in 2018 as a partnership between the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has made significant progress in strengthening hypertension management at the primary care level. Blood pressure control rates in participating facilities improved dramatically from just 7 percent at baseline to 70 percent, far exceeding the national average of 5 to 9.5 percent.
However, these gains remain concentrated in intervention facilities. Nationally, the picture remains challenging. Hypertension has remained a major cause of hospital admissions and deaths, mainly driven by late detection and poor management.
The National Cardiothoracic Centre recorded about 10,000 cases of heart-related diseases at its Out-Patient Department in 2024 alone.
A Call to Know Your Numbers
Dr Akumiah encouraged Ghanaians to know their health numbers, including blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and to undergo routine health checks even when they felt well. She explained that cardiovascular damage could develop silently for years before a person experienced a serious event, making prevention and early detection critical.
She also cautioned patients against stopping prescribed hypertension medication simply because their blood pressure had improved, noting that hypertension is usually a chronic condition requiring long-term management. Patients experiencing side effects should consult their doctors rather than discontinue treatment on their own, she advised.
Professor Doku urged Ghanaians to make regular health checks part of their lifestyle, challenging members of the public to know their blood pressure in the same way they knew their telephone numbers. “When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? Do you know your blood sugar level? Do you know your cholesterol level? Do you know your weight and your BMI?” he asked.
What Happens Next
The media engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases, promote prevention, and encourage early detection and treatment of hypertension and other heart-related conditions as Ghana marks World Heart Month.
With cardiovascular diseases now the leading cause of death in Ghana and hypertension affecting an estimated 3.7 million adults—most of whom are unaware of their condition—the coming years will test whether the country’s health system can shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. As Professor Doku warned, the risk factor is silent, and the consequences are increasingly fatal.
