The cost of staying alive: diabetes, hypertension and the price of a working life in Ghana

As diabetes and hypertension threaten the health, livelihoods and productivity of working-age Ghanaians, two personal stories reveal the human cost of chronic illness and the urgent need for early detection, accessible treatment and supportive workplaces. At an age when many young people are building careers, raising families and pursuing their ambitions, others are confronting illnesses that threaten their health and financial security. For some, a chronic disease diagnosis becomes more than a medical challenge; it becomes a struggle to remain employed, afford treatment and plan for the future. Trudy Nartey, 45, knows this reality. Diagnosed with diabetes in her twenties, she has experienced how a condition requiring continuing care can reshape a person’s working life.

She previously worked at a private company, where she frequently requested permission to attend medical appointments and receive treatment. According to her account, her employment was eventually terminated because of these repeated requests. She remained unemployed for almost two years, struggling to afford her medication, before eventually securing employment in the government sector. Her experience exposes a difficult intersection between healthcare and economic security. When income disappears, the need for medication does not. For workers with chronic conditions, employment can mean more than a monthly salary; it can determine whether continuing treatment remains affordable. For Kwesi Yeboah Nketiah, 31, the discovery of hypertension came through a frightening medical emergency. He felt dizzy and collapsed before being rushed to hospital, where he was admitted for several days while his blood pressure was managed. He was diagnosed with hypertension during that admission. Kwesi now takes his…