Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has announced that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund ( Mahama Cares) is investing in building state-of-the-art cardiology centres across three Teaching Hospitals.

According to a Facebook post by the Presidential Spokesman, the three centres will serve the purpose of diagnosing, treating and operating on heart patients.

“A prime example is the on-going construction of state-of-the-art cardiology centres in three teaching hospitals: Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and Tamale Teaching Hospital," Mr Ofosu wrote.

He adds that, these centres will be fully equipped with modern catheterization laboratories, operating theatres, intensive care units, consulting rooms, pharmacies, and dedicated oxygen plants.”

This complements the fund’s ongoing support for patients with non-communicable diseases, helping them cover the high costs of treatment

Government, through the Ministry of Health, on Wednesday, March 12 launched the Ghana Medical Care Trust, also known as Mahama Cares, as part of President John Mahama’s campaign promise.

This program is designed to support people with chronic illnesses like kidney failure, diabetes, and other serious health conditions.

At the launch event, Health Minister Kwabena Minta Akandoh said the initiative was long overdue. He pointed to World Health Organization (WHO) data showing that non-communicable diseases cause 42% of all deaths in Ghana.

“Cardiovascular diseases alone make up 90% of these cases, while cancers account for 5%. Many of these deaths could be prevented if people had access to treatment, but the high cost makes it impossible for many,” he said.

The Minister recognized the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in providing healthcare but stressed the need to include specialized treatments.

To fill this gap, he stated that Mahama Cares would provide financial support to individuals suffering from chronic illnesses.

Former Director of Health Services, Dr. Koku Awoonor, praised the initiative, saying it would bring relief to many families struggling with medical expenses.

“Non-communicable diseases put a heavy strain on families both psychologically and financially. Today’s event signals a new approach to making treatment more accessible,” he said.

President Mahama committed to donating 50 percent of his annual salary to the Fund.

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang pledged four months of her salary to support the fund.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG) donated GHS2.2 million worth of medicines to contribute to the success of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as the MahamaCares.

Items donated by the organization included pain medication, blood tonics, anti-malaria drugs, cardiovascular and anti-diabetic medicines, and asthma management treatments.

While presenting the items, PMAG President Dr Samuel Tobbin, remarked that the donation seeks to restore “hope and dignity to the thousands of Ghanaians who rely on public health support."

“We believe that the MahamaCares Initiative presents a timely opportunity to demonstrate the power of local industry in driving national development,” he added.

Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, expressed appreciation to PMAG for the donation, assuring the group that the medications would immediately be sent to the appropriate health facilities.

Some 11 agencies under the Ministry of the Interior collectively donated GH¢1 million to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund at a short ceremony at Jubilee House in Accra.

Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who led the team for the donation, explained that it was a gesture of goodwill, as sickness knows no boundaries and can affect anyone.

The breakdown of the contributions made by the agencies is as follows: Ghana Police Service (GH¢580,000), Ghana Immigration Service (GH¢100,000), Ghana National Fire Service (GH¢50,000), National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) (GH¢50,000), and the Ghana Prisons Service (GH¢50,000).

Others include the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) (GH¢10,000), National Identification Authority (NIA) (GH¢50,000), Gaming Commission (GH¢50,000), Ghana Refugees Board (GH¢5,000), National Peace Council (GH¢5,000) and the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission (GH¢10,000).

The Minister for the Interior and National Security, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, also made a personal contribution of GH¢50,000, while the Deputy Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, also donated GH¢30,000.

President John Dramani Mahama expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of the Interior and its agencies for their support, emphasizing that the initiative is rooted in compassion, equity, and shared national responsibility.

To ensure broad-based participation, the President has directed all government appointees to contribute the equivalent of at least one month’s salary to the Fund.

In addition, the general public has been encouraged to make contributions through the short code *255#, accessible on all mobile networks.

About Mahama Cares

The "Mahama Cares" initiative, officially known as the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, was launched by the government to provide financial support for individuals suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, and heart conditions. This initiative, introduced by President John Dramani Mahama, aims to ease the financial burden of treatment and improve access to healthcare for affected individuals.

The initiative addresses a significant gap in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which does not cover many specialized treatments. To guide the fund's operations, the government has inaugurated the Mahama Cares Technical Taskforce, a team of experts responsible for developing policies, creating a funding structure, and setting eligibility criteria for beneficiaries. The task force is chaired by Reverend Professor Emeritus Seth Aryeetey, a former provost of the College of Health Science