The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has sounded the alarm: employment struggles and poor living conditions are the biggest forces driving multidimensional poverty, contributing between 47.8 per cent and 12.7 per cent and 35.9 per cent and 15.5 per cent, respectively.

With Ghana’s population estimated at 35 million, mostly young people, the economic strain is taking a devastating toll, not just on wallets but on physical and mental well-being.

For many Ghanaians, financial hardship is not just about making ends meet—it’s about survival. Healthcare, especially preventive care, often takes a backseat, leading to long-term complications that could have been avoided.

Physiotherapist and University of Ghana Medical School lecturer, Professor Jonathan Quartey, has urged Ghanaians to rethink their approach to health.

He warned that ignoring physical well-being due to financial constraints could have serious consequences.

"Regular physiotherapy isn’t just for injury recovery; it prevents complications that could affect mobility and overall quality of life," he emphasises.

However, for many, physiotherapy remains out of reach. Professor Quartey called on the government to step in, urging for subsidies on physiotherapy treatments, so low-income individuals don’t have to choose between their health and their next meal.

As the crisis deepens, some individuals and organisations are stepping up. Gerald Osei Boakye, trustee of the Edward Osei Boakye Trust Fund, is championing the need to support the elderly, many of whom struggle with mobility issues and lack access to quality healthcare.

Speaking at the commissioning of the newly revamped Legoe and Physical Well-being Centre, he stressed that ensuring proper care for the aged is crucial to their health and dignity.

"This facility is more than just a fitness center—it’s a lifeline, the renovation, valued at  GH₵100,000, aims to provide a safe space where the elderly can receive proper care, stay active, and maintain their well-being," he said.

As Ghana battles economic challenges, urgent action is needed to ensure that healthcare, particularly preventive care like physiotherapy, becomes accessible to all.

Will policymakers listen? Or will financial barriers continue to cost lives?