Childhood cancer is gradually becoming a major concern within Ghana’s health system. Over the years, some children have lost their lives due to limited access to treatment, largely attributed to inadequate infrastructure.

This was confirmed by the Head of the Paediatric Oncology Unit, Dr. Ernestina Shandorff, who, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk held in Accra. She revealed an alarming rise in cases of childhood cancer at the facility.

She explained that in previous years, the Unit recorded about 150 cases annually. However, recently, the number has sharply increased to over 200 cases, stressing that these are only new cases. When combined with old cases, the figure rises to about 1,000.

“It’s high time because our numbers have really increased. Around 2014, we used to see maybe around 160 children with cancer every year; now we see more, we see over 230 every year, new cases, excluding the old children. Plus, the old children will be in the 1000s,” she revealed.

One major concern expressed by Dr Shandorff was the lack of adequate facilities to cater to the increasing number of cases. This shortage, she said, reduces the survival chances of some children, especially when emergency cases requiring immediate attention are placed on waiting lists, care that could otherwise be provided promptly if sufficient facilities were available.

“The number of children has outgrown the unit, so we really need a bigger space to be able to make sure we provide adequate care for these children. It takes a village, that’s the truth. So we are advocating through this walk for sponsorship to complete this building so that these children can have the space, and we don’t have to wait for them in the emergency room, wait for additional time that could impact the cure rate of these children,” she said.

Consequently, she called on all stakeholders to support the completion of the stalled 48-bed Pediatric Oncology Block.“…So I call on everybody, govt, philanthropist, please come to the aid of the unit,” she appealed.

Also at the same event, the Executive Director of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, Akua Sarpong, reiterated the urgent need for the completion of the building to save more children.

“We are building a 48-bed pediatric oncology block at Korle Bu. It’s not just a building — it’s a lifeline. Every day, children are turned away or delayed because there’s no space. That delay can mean the difference between life and death.”

Her commitment to ensuring the facility’s completion, she explained, is borne out of a personal tragedy.“I lost my daughter to cancer. That pain drives me every day. No parent should have to watch their child suffer because the system isn’t ready.”

She closed with a rallying cry, saying, “We won’t stop until no child in Ghana dies from cancer. That’s our promise.”

The sod-cutting for the project was done in August 2023 under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-led government, with an expected completion by October 2024. However, construction has stalled due to funding challenges. So far, about $458,000 has been raised out of the original project cost of $1.6 million (approximately GH¢13.9 million), leaving over $1.1 million still needed to complete the facility.

“We’ve raised some funds, but it’s not enough. We need government support, corporate sponsorship, and individuals who care. Childhood cancer is not rare anymore, it’s real, and it’s rising,” Dr. Sarpong confirmed.

The government, in April this year, unveiled the Mahama Cares Ghana Medical Trust Fund, a program dedicated to providing financial aid to individuals battling chronic conditions such as kidney failure, cancer, and heart disease. The fund is designed to alleviate the financial burden faced by patients in need of life-saving medical care.

The launch took place at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra on Tuesday, April 29, and brought together key stakeholders from the healthcare sector and the corporate world. President John Dramani Mahama, who officially introduced the fund, called on the private sector to support Mahama Cares as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“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 own staff.“So, as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), 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 the Ghana Medical Fund because it is going to do a lot of good to the country,” he stated.

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, expressed his support for the initiative, describing it as long overdue. He emphasised that the fund would ensure equitable access to healthcare, particularly for individuals facing financial barriers to treatment.

“The draft bill for the Mahama Care is ready and will be submitted immediately Parliament resumes,” he confirmed.Akandoh also announced a significant policy change to strengthen the programme, revealing that the government has removed the capping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This, he explained, will unlock substantial resources for the fund.“Most importantly, the uncapping 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,” he added.

Following the uncapping of NHIS, Parliament on July 23 passed the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill under a certificate of urgency, giving legal backing to the Mahama Cares Initiative and enabling the establishment of a dedicated fund to support patients battling life-threatening conditions.

As of now, the operational guidelines and eligibility criteria for accessing the fund are still being finalised. A task force composed of health, legal, and finance experts is developing the rollout framework, but no public release has been made yet. The initiative is expected to roll out in phases beginning in late 2025, with an initial pilot focused on supporting patients with cancer and kidney failure. The exact start date for disbursements and patient enrollment is yet to be announced by the government.

In a recent development, the Ghana Gold Board (“GoldBod”) on Tuesday, September 23, made a significant contribution of GHS 2 million to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (“Mahama Cares”) to strengthen healthcare delivery and combat the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Mr Richard Nunekpeku, reaffirmed GoldBod’s confidence in the vision of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of the Fund. “We are convinced of the foresight behind Mahama Cares and the capacity of its administrators to deliver on its mission and to use the resources effectively in furtherance of this noble vision, the reason why we are making this donation,” he said.