Franklin Cudjoe the President of IMANI Africa, has revealed he spents about about $80 to $90 every six days on medication for Parkinson’s disease.
The IMANI president disclosed that the medications Parkinson’s disease are expensive, with costs running as high as $60 to $100 every six days, depending on the combination required.
Franklin Cudjoe urged Ghanaians to prioritise regular health check-ups, warning of the rising occurrence and high cost of managing neurological conditions.
He explained that Parkinson’s disease occurs when dopamine levels in the brain decline due to damage in specific regions.
Speaking in a recent interview on Starr Chat, Franklin Cudjoe stated, “All those who go to do the normal health checks every year, at least once a year, try to check for it, as Parkinson’s is attacking everybody”.
“I can drive within a four-hour window. I can do everything any normal person can do, but within a three to four hour window because I think in the fifth or the fourth hour, the medicine starts waning,” he noted.
He further added, “What I use now is about $65 or $65, and that’s for just about six days. For instance, if you add all that medication to what my Italian neurologist added, which is to protect the brain, you are heading towards close to maybe $80 or $90.
“Maybe I have support systems. But I worry because the people… It’s an expensive disease. The Alzheimer’s diseases are no longer diseases of the rich; they are now diseases of the poor because of the sort of lifestyles we are leading”, he stated.
Franklin Cudjoe also raised an alarm over the limited number of neurologists in Ghana, detailing that Ghana only has about 14 to 15 specialists to serve the entire population.
He added, “We don’t have many neurologists. We have just 10 or 15 neurologists in the country. Neurology is an area where you even need to have paediatric neurologists
“So they are specialisations; these are just neurologists for everybody. I think they are just 14. People should take their health seriously,” he added.
It will be recalled, Franklin Cudjoe, some months ago has publicly announced he had been living with Parkinson’s disease for the past eight years.
The IMANI president, in a Facebook post on Thursday, January 8, 2026, recounted that he earlier told Ghanaians at the beginning of the year that he was living with a movement disorder.
He further went on to confirm that his disease is Parkinson’s.
Franklin Cudjoe, in his post, wrote, “At the beginning of this year, I did mention that I was living with a movement disorder. Well, folks, it is Parkinsons. I had been living with it for the past eight years. My doctors in Ghana, neurologists in fact, ( And we have very few of them in Ghana ) have been very supportive .
Through the generous support of very close acquaintances, I have also been seeking medical care abroad. Parkinsons has no cure, but it won’t kill you. It can only be managed with expensive medication and lifestyle adjustment ( diet and physical exercises, especially). Many thanks to all who have shown concern”.
He further added, “I am determined to raise awareness and continue to support the Parkinson’s support group in Ghana.
Once again, please avoid prolonged exposure to chemicals, and please go for a clinical assessment once you notice changes in your physical movements. It may also be hereditary, although research shows that it is less than 10%
Keep well”.
Watch the video below:
I spend about $80 to $90 every six days on medication for Parkinson’s disease… – Franklin Cudjoe (CEO, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education) #StarrFM #StarrChat #GHOneTV #EIBNetwork #NewsAlert #GHOneNews pic.twitter.com/VMHiFuyL9K
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) April 10, 2026