Accra – September 19, 2025 – A senior cardiology resident at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Albert Agbi, has raised alarm over the rising prevalence of hypertension in Ghana, describing it as a “silent killer” that often goes unnoticed until it causes severe, life-threatening complications.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, Dr. Agbi revealed that nearly one in every 10 adult Ghanaians is hypertensive, yet fewer than half are aware of their condition.
“About 34% of adult Ghanaians in our latest data are hypertensive. This means three out of every 10 adult Ghanaians you see have hypertension, and less than 50% of this number know they are hypertensive,” he explained.
Poor Health-Seeking Behaviour
Dr. Agbi attributed the crisis to the reluctance of many Ghanaians to undergo routine medical check-ups, with most people assuming they are healthy until serious complications occur.
“Most people will tell you, ‘I don’t get sick, so I don’t go to the hospital.’ They move about without checking their blood pressure or sugar levels, not knowing that a lot of damage is going on in the background,” he warned.
No Early Symptoms, Deadly Complications
He further stressed that hypertension is particularly dangerous because it shows no early warning signs.
“Hypertension is called a silent killer because when you have it, you don’t experience symptoms. It is not like malaria where you get headaches or other obvious signs. You can go for years without knowing, and when the symptoms finally show up, they are very complicated,” he cautioned.
Call to Action
Dr. Agbi urged the public to prioritise routine hospital visits and regular blood pressure checks to enable early detection and reduce the risk of severe chttps://mynewsghana.orgomplications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
Source – My News Ghana
