The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has reported a rise in epilepsy cases in the region, recording a total of 3,321 cases in 2025.

The figure is an increase from the 2,968 cases recorded in 2024.

In Ghana, 1 per cent of the population lives with the disease, while 52 million people worldwide are affected.

Eighty per cent of the world's population living with the disease resides in low and middle-income countries.

Addressing the media on the International Epilepsy Awareness Month in Kumasi, the regional Health Director, Dr Fred Adomako Boateng, said epilepsy is a significant yet highly misunderstood neurological disorder.

Under the theme: "Moving from Awareness to Action," Dr Fred Adomako Boateng noted that people living with the disease are subjected to stigma, discrimination, and neglect, driven by false beliefs that it is a spiritual curse.

He clarified that the disease is a chronic non-communicable brain disorder, stating it is not a "curse".

He called on stakeholders such as community leaders, religious leaders, and the media to support efforts to eliminate stigma, emphasising that the disease is treatable.

Dr Boateng advised that patients experiencing an epileptic seizure should not be left alone, but rather be kept safe, moved away from fire and any hazardous substances, and stayed with until the seizure ceases.

He urged families to seek hospital treatment for their relatives suffering from epilepsy.

Dr Boateng mentioned that the directorate is working to increase the capacity of primary health providers in rural communities to manage epilepsy effectively.