Authorities of the Ankaful psychiatric hospital in Cape Coast in the Central region have refused to admit mentally challenged patients for about two years now due to lack of funds.

According to them, the hospital has not received funds for medical supplies and food stuffs needed for the up-keep of inmates.

Joy News' Correspondent, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, who visited the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital reports that the Medical Director of the facility, Armah Eliot says the hospital had been compelled to deny patients admission for close to 2 years as a result of inadequate release of funds from government for the care of inmates.

He explains that the hospital has the capacity to admit over 300 patients but currently about 75 patients are available, adding that the facility only admits critical situations such as orders from the court.

He further indicates that the facility can no longer keep piling on debts to keep the hospital running.

The comment was in response to complaints from some residents of Cape Coast against the increasing number of mentally challenged persons roaming their streets.

Residents say they have been overwhelmed by the presence of the mentally challenged persons on the streets some of whom pose a danger to the lives of innocent people.

Ebow Blankson, a Psychiatric social worker at the facility told Joy News "nurses are in the wards doing nothing," because they have been redundant by the lack of funds.