Mahama Launches ‘Mahama Cares’ Initiative, Donates 6 Months’ Salary to Ghana Medical Trust Fund
President John Dramani Mahama has launched the “Mahama Cares” initiative, a philanthropic endeavor aimed at providing medical support to individuals afflicted with chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, stroke, and heart conditions. As part of this initiative, President Mahama has generously donated six months’ worth of his salary to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
The launch event, held at the University of Ghana Medical Centre in Accra, saw President Mahama urging the private sector to emulate his example by committing their corporate social responsibility funds to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
“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 monies in your banks or do business with you. Some of them are even your own staff,” he stated.
“So, as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility, if you give anything, consider that you are giving to your own 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,” President Mahama emphasized.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, hailed the initiative as long overdue, highlighting its potential to promote fairness in healthcare access, particularly for those facing financial barriers to treatment. He revealed that a draft bill outlining the management framework for the fund is ready and will be submitted to Parliament soon.
“The draft bill for the Mahama Care is ready and will be submitted immediately Parliament resumes,” Minister Akandoh stated.
He further noted that the removal of the cap on the National Health Insurance Fund has unlocked substantial resources, enabling a dedicated allocation of funds to support the Mahama Care Programme.