Prof. Alfred Doku, head of Cardiology at the National Cardiothoracic Centre, cautioned that heart disease and stroke now account for between 40 and 50 per cent of deaths in Ghana, a figure that is rising among people below 50 years old. The warning came as Ghana marked World Heart Day, underscoring the country’s mounting burden of hypertension and related cardiovascular conditions.
"Close to 50% of people who die in Ghana die from stroke or heart disease," Doku said. "That is the main thing that is driving mortality in Ghana. It occurs in younger people, those younger than 50 years, so the workforce is dying from heart disease and stroke." He added that the nation’s major health concerns have shifted from malaria, TB, HIV and malnutrition to hypertension‑driven cardiovascular disease.
Doku highlighted a troubling trend: many patients, particularly men, are reluctant to take or continue their hypertension medication because they fear it may cause erectile dysfunction. "Some of the patients are afraid of taking the medication, especially hypertension medication, because of erectile dysfunction. They cannot perform in the bedroom," he said. He urged patients to discuss such concerns with their doctors rather than abandon treatment, noting that erectile dysfunction may itself be a symptom of an underlying condition like diabetes or hypertension, not necessarily a drug side effect.
He warned that stopping medication without medical advice can lead to stroke, heart disease or sudden death. "But let's look at it this way. The consequences of high blood pressure are stroke, heart disease or a sudden death," Doku said. He encouraged patients to speak with their doctors about alternative treatments or adjustments if sexual side effects arise.
Ghana’s cardiovascular disease landscape is evolving, and experts say that addressing hypertension early and correctly is crucial to safeguarding the country’s working population and overall health.
