Omanghana
Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) Nana Oye Bampoe Addo has led a delegation of presidential staff in presenting a cheque worth GH₵6,102,737.80 to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, in a significant boost to efforts aimed at supporting Ghanaians battling chronic and life-threatening non-communicable diseases.
The presentation ceremony took place at Jubilee House and underscores the government’s commitment to expanding access to essential healthcare services for patients facing high treatment costs that are often beyond the reach of ordinary households.
Contributions from President, Appointees and Staff
The GH₵6.1 million contribution was compiled by the Controller and Accountant-General through several dedicated funding sources under the government’s initiative to strengthen the trust fund.
A substantial portion of the donation came from President John Dramani Mahama, who fulfilled an earlier pledge by contributing six months of his basic personal salary as seed funding for the initiative.
The fund was further bolstered by one-month salary contributions from senior presidential advisers, ministers, and staff at Jubilee House in line with the administration’s “Reset Agenda,” which encourages public officials to demonstrate leadership through personal sacrifice.
Additional resources were generated through salary deductions imposed on political appointees who failed to comply with the government’s initial statutory asset declaration deadline.
Fund to Strengthen Patient Care and Health Services
Receiving the cheque on behalf of the trust, Fund Administrator Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku outlined four key priority areas that will guide the use of the funds.
First, the initiative will provide direct financial assistance to patients requiring expensive treatment for chronic illnesses such as kidney disease, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions.
Second, resources will be invested in healthcare infrastructure by procuring modern medical equipment and technology for regional health facilities to improve service delivery.
The fund will also support workforce development through specialist training and capacity-building programmes for healthcare professionals, helping to strengthen Ghana’s medical expertise.
Finally, a portion of the resources will be allocated to medical research aimed at generating evidence-based solutions and informing long-term health policies and sustainable treatment strategies.
Addressing Gaps in Healthcare Financing
The Mahama Cares initiative was established to bridge critical healthcare financing gaps that are not fully covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Its mandate includes supporting patients who require costly treatments such as chemotherapy, dialysis for kidney failure, stroke management, advanced diabetes care, and treatment for sickle cell disease and other chronic conditions.
Speaking during the presentation, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo described the donation as an example of leadership by action and called on businesses, philanthropists, civil society organisations, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora to contribute toward the sustainability of the fund.
She noted that members of the public can continue to support the initiative through the dedicated mobile contribution platform available via the short code *225# across all mobile networks.
With fresh funding now secured, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is expected to expand its reach and provide much-needed relief to vulnerable patients while strengthening healthcare delivery and long-term medical research across the country.
Source: Omanghana
