Ghana: Stroke Cases Surge in the Last Five Years... Young Adults Worst Affected

What the report says

Stroke cases in Ghana have increased sharply over the past five years, according to the Ghanaian Times report distributed by AllAfrica. The story says the number of recorded cases rose by 52% between 2020 and 2025, with more patients now falling in the 30-to-49 age group. The update was shared by Dr Wallace Ollenu, the Programme Manager for Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ghana Health Service, during a webinar in Accra held by the Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana and partners to mark World Stroke Day.

Dr Ollenu said 29,483 stroke cases were recorded last year, compared with 26,780 in 2024, and pointed to hypertension as a leading driver of the rise. He urged routine screening and better adherence to treatment, and cited a 2022 hospital cohort study indicating that nearly half of stroke patients died within a year of admission. He said the findings showed the medical and economic burden on families and the wider health system.

The Ghana Health Service said it is updating treatment guidelines for conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, expanding screening and public awareness, and training nurses to support follow-up care for survivors. The Ministry of Health also said stroke should be treated as a national health priority, with attention to prevention, emergency care, rehabilitation and palliative services. More broadly, stroke is a major cause of disability and death worldwide, and the report underscores the importance of quick recognition of symptoms and immediate treatment.