Poverty as a Hindrance to Accessing Quality Healthcare in Ghana: A Theological and Pastoral Reflection
Isaac Boaheng 
& Clement Amoako
Issue: Vol.5 No.10 Special Issue Article 2 pp.12-24
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245102 | Published online 19th September, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Access to quality healthcare is a key requirement in every modern society. In developed countries, majority of the populace has access to quality and affordable healthcare. However, in developing countries such as Ghana, hospitals with quality infrastructure, healthcare equipment, drugs, and well-trained health practitioners are limited and expensive to access. Given the significant number of people living in extreme poverty in Ghana, it is not surprising that many people experience deterioration in their health and eventually die due to the inability to access and/or afford quality healthcare. In the current situation, where economic hardship keeps increasing in the country, there is a need to engage in a discussion on how healthcare can be made available and affordable to people of all economic classes. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to assess the limitations that poverty places on people in their quest to access healthcare and offer solutions from theological and pastoral perspectives. This paper employed qualitative and historical descriptive research designs to describe the current state of affairs of the impact that poverty has on access to health care in Ghana. The paper used data collected from secondary sources such as books, journal articles and dissertations. After a careful analysis of the subject matter from the Ghanaian and biblical perspectives, the paper made recommendations for the nation (Ghana), the church, and all stakeholders to contribute to the provision of quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare for all irrespective of one’s financial background or economic status.
Keywords: Poverty, Hindrance, Quality Health, Ghana
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Isaac Boaheng holds a PhD in Theology from the University of the Free State, South Africa. He is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Christian Ethics at the Christian Service University, Ghana, and a Research Fellow at the Department of Biblical and Religion Studies, University of the Free State, South Africa.
Clement Amoako is a final-year undergraduate student at the Christian Service University College, Ghana, where he is studying Theology with Administration. He is a steward at the Methodist Church Ghana (Breman), Ebenezer Society.
Boaheng, Isaac and Clement Amoako. “Poverty as a Hindrance to Accessing Quality Healthcare in Ghana: A Theological and Pastoral Reflection,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.10 Special Issue (2024): 12-24. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245102
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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