Accra: Ghanaians prepare extensively for birth through labour, rituals, family support, and community celebrations. Yet, when it comes to death-the final transition of life-many people deny, resist, or medicalise the process until dignity is lost.
According to Ghana News Agency, in Ghana, death is often treated as a medical emergency rather than a natural stage of life. The story of Mr. George Owusu Asomaning, an 81-year-old whose final days highlighted both the value of death awareness and the shortcomings of the healthcare system, offers important lessons for the nation.
Mr. Asomaning's journey was one of spiritual acceptance and preparation. He had long embraced the reality of mortality, speaking openly about death and preparing himself and his family for the inevitable. After surviving a mild stroke, he lived for more than a year with gratitude and contentment despite physical limitations, focusing increasingly on gratitude, reflection, and closure.
When he later experienced what doctors described as a seizure, he was rushed to the hospital. This led to a series of medical interventions, including a coma, episodes of delirium, oxygen support, and the administration of powerful medications. His children found communication from the medical team to be inconsistent, complicating their understanding of his condition and whether continued treatment was appropriate. Despite understanding that he was nearing the end of life, they faced hostility from some healthcare personnel when seeking clarity about his care.
Mr. Asomaning's family eventually took him off oxygen support as his body began gradually shutting down. They searched for hospice care services but found them difficult to access and rarely discussed openly in Ghana, where death remains a largely taboo subject. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, reflecting the death awareness he had embraced and allowing him to leave with dignity and peace.
His family's experience underscored a broader concern: Ghana's healthcare system remains inadequately prepared to support patients and families through the end-of-life journey. Society prepares extensively for birth, but death, too, deserves similar preparation, care, and respect.
Hospice care, which focuses on comfort, dignity, and emotional support rather than aggressive interventions, is urgently needed in Ghana. The World Health Organization recognises palliative care as an essential component of Universal Health Coverage. It is intended for anyone living with a serious illness or approaching the end of life, not just cancer patients.
Effective palliative care can reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, ease pressure on healthcare facilities, and allow individuals to spend their final days in an environment of their choice. There is a need for enhanced training to help medical professionals transition from curative treatment to palliative support.
Death doulas, non-medical companions who provide emotional, practical, and spiritual support during the dying process, could also play a role. Their presence can normalise conversations about death, reduce fear, and create meaningful experiences that honour life and legacy.
Ghana must seriously consider integrating hospice and palliative care into mainstream healthcare delivery. Healthcare professionals should be supported with the knowledge and skills needed to discuss death sensitively and guide families through difficult decisions. Communities must also be encouraged to engage in open conversations about mortality and end-of-life planning.
Death is not the opposite of life; it is part of life itself. The true measure of a healthcare system lies not only in its ability to save lives but also in how respectfully and compassionately it supports people through life's final chapter.