Accepted Article This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/ctr.13061 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. DR. VINCENT BOIMA (Orcid ID : 0000-0001-8649-4344) Article type : Original Article Kidney transplantation in Ghana: Is the Public Ready? Vincent Boima 1 , Vincent Ganu 2 Dzifa Dey 1 , Ernest Yorke 1 , Alfred Yawson 3 , Yvonne Otchere 4 , Stella Nartey 5 , Anna Gyaban-Mensah 5 , Margaret Lartey 1 , C. Charles Mate-Kole 1, 5 1 Departments of Medicine & Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry; 2 Department of Medicine, Korle-Bu Teaching hospital, Ghana; 3 Department of Community Health; College of Health Sciences, 4 Department of Psychology; Lancaster University, Ghana. 5 Department of Psychology; College of Humanities, University of Ghana. Corresponding author mail id : vincentboima@yahoo.com Background: The burden of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is reported to be higher among people of African ancestry. Majority do not have access to kidney transplantation. Africans in general, are less likely to donate a kidney or receive a transplant. Aims: The present study surveyed public perceptions of kidney transplantation in an inner city and suburban communities in Ghana. It examined people’s willingness to either accept or donate a kidney to save a life. In addition, it evaluated factors that influenced their opinion on the issue. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five purposively selected communities in the Greater Accra region in Ghana. Structured questionnaires and standardized instruments were administered to assess participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, religiosity and spirituality, perception of kidney transplantation. Results: Of the 480 participants, 233 (48.5%) were willing to donate a kidney; 71.6% would only do so after death. Religion, loss of body part and cultural values influenced participants’ willingness to donate a kidney. Uncertainty of health status post-transplantation and uneasiness with the concept of transplantation influenced the participants' willingness to accept a kidney transplant. Conclusion: The study revealed that almost half of the participants hold positive views towards kidney transplantation.