Franklin Cudjoe, founder and CEO of Ghana's leading think tank IMANI Africa, has disclosed that he has been living with Parkinson’s disease for the past eight years.

In a post on his Facebook wall on Thursday, January 8, Mr Cudjoe described the condition as a “movement disorder” and thanked doctors in Ghana and abroad for their ongoing support. He also highlighted the challenges of managing the disease, which has no known cure.

“My doctors in Ghana, neurologists in fact, and we have very few of them in Ghana, have been very supportive. Through the generous support of close acquaintances, I have also been seeking medical care abroad,” he wrote.

The revelation comes after some Ghanaians raised concerns about his mannerisms in a recent interview on TV.

Cudjoe explained that Parkinson’s can be managed through a combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments, including diet and regular physical exercise.

He expressed gratitude to those who have shown concern and pledged to continue supporting Parkinson’s advocacy efforts in Ghana.

“Parkinson's has no cure, but it won’t kill you. It can only be managed with expensive medication and lifestyle adjustment,” he noted.

He also urged Ghanaians to avoid prolonged exposure to chemicals and to seek medical assessments if they notice changes in physical movements, warning that the condition can be hereditary in less than 10 per cent of cases.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive brain disorder affecting movement (tremor, stiffness, slowness) due to the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, but also causes non-movement issues like sleep problems and depression; while there's no cure, treatments like medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.