Michael Kpakpo Allotey
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), and the Frankel Foundation for Diabetics, organised a free health screening exercise for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Accra.
The exercise formed part of a renewed public health drive aimed at raising awareness about diabetes and chronic NCDs such as hypertension, and was organised as part of this year’s World Diabetes Day. The screening saw more than 200 residents benefit at the forecourt of the Accra City Hall.
Speaking at the event, the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, said the initiative was a direct response to the increasing burden of diabetes across the metropolis. He emphasised that early diagnosis remains critical, cautioning that “early detection is always better than late regret.”
He encouraged residents not to view a diabetes diagnosis as a death sentence, but rather as an opportunity to adopt proper care, management, and lifestyle adjustments. He urged the public to prioritise routine check-ups instead of waiting until symptoms worsen.
The Mayor added that Accra, as the capital city, must set the pace in preventive healthcare. He advised residents to make health screenings a regular part of their lives, ideally every two to three months.
He stressed that good health underpins all other benefits the government may provide, noting that “wealth without health is meaningless.”
Mr. Allotey also encouraged residents to undergo periodic checks for blood pressure, liver and kidney function, and urged men to take prostate screening seriously, expressing concern about the rising number of prostate-related cases.
He assured that he would collaborate closely with health professionals to include prostate screening in future community outreach programmes as part of efforts to expand access to preventive healthcare.
The MCE for KoKMA, Mr. Alfred Allotey-Gaisie, said bringing free screening and health education directly into communities is helping to “remove the barriers of cost, distance, and fear,” enabling residents to know their health status early and seek timely care.
He warned that non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and kidney conditions are quietly becoming a major public health threat in urban centres. He stressed that local authorities can no longer treat these conditions as issues for hospitals alone but must take an active role in addressing them at the community level.
By Vera Owusu Sarpong