President Mahama Donates Six Months’ Salary to Launch Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund
President Mahama Establishes Groundbreaking Healthcare Fund to Support Chronic Disease Patients
In a remarkable display of personal commitment to healthcare access, President John Dramani Mahama has pledged six months of his presidential salary to the newly established Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, dubbed “Mahama Cares.” This significant contribution marked the official launch of the fund at a ceremony held in Accra on Tuesday, April 29.
The initiative represents a major step forward in addressing one of Ghana’s most pressing healthcare challenges—providing financial support for citizens battling chronic illnesses who struggle with treatment costs.
Mahama Cares: A Lifeline for Chronic Disease Patients in Ghana
The newly launched fund aims to provide crucial financial assistance to Ghanaians suffering from debilitating chronic conditions that often require expensive, ongoing treatment. These include:
- Kidney failure
- Cancer
- Heart conditions
- Other chronic diseases requiring specialized care
“Whenever the accountant general finishes six months of whatever, I am entitled to go into Mahama Cares,” President Mahama announced during the launch event, demonstrating personal investment in the fund’s success.
Breaking Down Financial Barriers to Essential Healthcare
According to Ghana Health Service statistics, thousands of Ghanaians face significant financial obstacles when seeking treatment for chronic conditions. Many patients resort to crowdfunding or selling personal assets to cover medical costs, while others simply go without necessary care.
The Mahama Cares initiative directly addresses this healthcare gap by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for those most in need of financial support for medical treatments.
Call to Corporate Ghana: Join the Healthcare Revolution
Beyond his personal contribution, President Mahama extended a passionate appeal to Ghana’s business community to support the initiative through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.
“I want to encourage corporate Ghana, businesses, the mines, the banks, and all the other companies that this Ghana Medical Trust Fund is coming to your clients who save their money in your banks or do business with you. Some of them are even your staff,” the President emphasized.
He further highlighted the mutual benefit of supporting the fund: “So, as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility, if you give anything, consider that you are giving to your staff or customers. So, I would like to encourage all corporations in Ghana, both private and public, to at the end of the year, donate some portion of their annual CSR to Ghana Medical Fund because it is going to do a lot of good to the country.”
How Companies Can Contribute to Mahama Cares
Businesses looking to support this initiative can:
- Allocate a percentage of annual CSR budgets to the fund
- Organize employee-matching donation programs
- Partner with healthcare providers to offer subsidized services
- Sponsor specific treatment programs within the fund
Legislative Framework in Development
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the initiative as “long overdue” and one designed to ensure fairness in healthcare access. He revealed that significant progress has already been made in establishing the fund’s legal and operational framework.
“The draft bill for the Mahama Cares is ready and will be submitted immediately to Parliament resumes,” the Minister announced. This legislative foundation will ensure proper governance, transparency, and sustainability of the fund.
National Health Insurance Reform Supports New Initiative
In a related development with significant implications for healthcare funding, Minister Akandoh announced a major policy shift: “Most importantly, the uncapping of the capping of the national health insurance firm has been removed. This move has unlocked substantial resources to ensure that a dedicated allocation of funds will now support the Mahama Care Programme.”
This policy change addresses a longstanding concern within Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), where funding constraints had previously limited the scope of coverage for chronic conditions.
What This Means for Ghanaians Living with Chronic Illness
For patients like Josephine Mensah, a 42-year-old dialysis patient from Kumasi who spends approximately 60% of her monthly income on treatment, Mahama Cares represents hope for a more sustainable healthcare journey.
“Every two weeks, I must decide between food and dialysis,” Mensah told health reporters earlier this year. Initiatives like Mahama Cares aim to eliminate such impossible choices for thousands of Ghanaians.
How You Can Support Mahama Cares
The success of Mahama Cares depends not only on government and corporate contributions but also on individual Ghanaians. Here’s how you can help:
- Share information about the fund with friends and family who may benefit
- Consider personal donations to the fund when possible
- Advocate for healthcare coverage expansion through social media and community forums
- Support businesses that contribute to healthcare initiatives
Visit the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund website to learn more about eligibility criteria, application processes, and donation options.