Tragic Suicide in Sunyani: Cynthia Boahemaa Found Dead as Ghana Grapples with Rising Cases
Cynthia Boahemaa, a 43-year-old woman, was found hanging in her room in Penkwase, Sunyani Municipality, on October 26, 2025, marking another grim chapter in Ghana’s escalating suicide crisis.
According to police reports, co-tenants Hayford Nkansah and Eunice Adobea discovered her body suspended from a crossbar with a cloth around her neck and blood oozing from her nostrils. The Sunyani Municipal Police have launched investigations into the circumstances of her death, with no foul play yet suspected.
This tragedy reflects a broader surge in suicides across Ghana, with the Mental Health Authority (MHA) reporting 134 deaths in 2024—a 40% increase from 2023—and 1,174 attempts in the first half of 2025 alone, projecting over 200 deaths by year-end.
The Bono Region, where Sunyani is located, accounts for 15% of cases, driven by economic distress and limited mental health access. Key factors fueling this rise include:
Economic Strain: Inflation (22.5% in 2025) and unemployment (14%) have deepened financial despair, with 21% of suicides linked to economic pressures, per a 2023 study in The Conversation.
Mental Health Gaps: Only 1% of Ghana’s health budget supports mental health, with 18 psychiatrists serving 32 million people. Stigma prevents 75% of cases from seeking help.
Social Pressures: Marital and family conflicts drive 36% of suicides, exacerbated by cultural expectations and substance abuse, like tramadol use (up 30% among youth).
Increased Visibility: Decriminalization in 2023 has boosted reporting by 40%, making suicides seem more frequent, though actual rates may have risen 10-15% post-COVID
