GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Eleven security agencies under Ghana’s Ministry for the Interior have donated GH¢1 million to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as the MahamaCares initiative, aimed at combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The donation was made during a ceremony at the Jubilee House on June 20, 2025, where President John Dramani Mahama praised the agencies for their commitment not only to national security but also to public health.
The event was attended by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak; the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; the Inspector-General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and representatives from agencies including the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service, Prisons Service, Narcotics Control Commission, NADMO, and the National Identification Authority.
President Mahama highlighted the growing threat of NCDs such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and diabetes, which account for nearly 40% of deaths in Ghana. He noted the heavy financial burden these illnesses place on families, warning that even the wealthy can be financially drained within a year of treatment.
To address this, Mahama announced that Cabinet had approved a bill to formalize the Mahama Cares Fund, which will soon be laid before Parliament. The fund will be managed by independent trustees and will receive financing from the National Health Insurance Levy, budget allocations, private donations, and development partners.
At the fund’s launch, the President pledged six months of his salary and announced a nationwide one-month salary donation initiative among public officials. The fund will not only cover treatment but also support public education campaigns to promote healthier lifestyles.
Citing his own family’s history with NCDs—his father died from prostate cancer and his mother from diabetes and hypertension—Mahama urged all Ghanaians to get regular medical check-ups and live healthier lives.
Additionally, the President announced a GH¢1 billion budget to retool the country’s security services, particularly the Ghana National Fire Service, which has not received new fire engines in over a decade.
He concluded by thanking the security agencies for their generous support and reaffirmed that the MahamaCares initiative is a national effort to improve access to healthcare for all Ghanaians.
