Els: MBN360
The government has transferred GHS6.1 million to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund following salary deductions from President John Dramani Mahama and some of his appointees in support of the national healthcare initiative.
The development was confirmed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu in a Facebook post, where he disclosed that the Controller and Accountant General had formally notified government about the transfer of the funds.
According to him, the deductions were made pursuant to directives issued by President Mahama after the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares.
“At the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund last year, President Mahama pledged to donate six months of his salary to the Fund,” the statement noted.
The Presidential Spokesperson explained that the President subsequently encouraged all political appointees to contribute one month of their salaries toward the initiative as part of efforts to support healthcare financing for people living with chronic diseases in Ghana.
Salary Deductions Extended to Asset Declaration Defaulters
Beyond the voluntary contributions, President Mahama also directed that appointees who failed to meet the first deadline for asset declaration should forfeit three months of their salaries to the Fund.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Controller and Accountant General has already completed the transfer of GHS6.1 million, while arrangements are underway to transfer an additional tranche covering salary deductions from appointees affected by the asset declaration directive.
The move forms part of broader government efforts to mobilize resources to support the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which was established to assist Ghanaians suffering from chronic non communicable diseases requiring expensive and specialized treatment.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund was formally established in July 2025 under Act 1144 as a statutory national fund aimed at providing sustainable financing for specialized healthcare.
The Fund focuses on supporting patients living with chronic non communicable diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and kidney disease, conditions that continue to place heavy financial burdens on many families across the country.
According to information provided on the Fund, chronic non communicable diseases now account for about 45 percent of all deaths in Ghana, meaning nearly one out of every two deaths is linked to illnesses that often require long term and costly medical care.
The creation of the Fund comes amid growing concerns over the financial difficulties faced by patients seeking specialist treatment that may not be fully covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
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Positioned at the highest level of Ghana’s three tier health financing structure, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund complements both the Free Primary Health Care programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme by addressing critical financing gaps associated with advanced healthcare treatment.
Bridging Healthcare Financing Gaps
Health financing experts have long raised concerns that although the National Health Insurance Scheme provides support for many medical conditions, specialized treatments for chronic illnesses often remain financially inaccessible for many households.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund seeks to address this challenge by supporting advanced treatment and specialist interventions for patients who may otherwise struggle to afford healthcare.
According to the policy framework of the initiative, the Fund operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Health and is intended to improve access to quality specialist care within Ghana.
The initiative is also expected to reduce the pressure on families forced to choose between paying for treatment and maintaining financial stability.
Government officials say the Fund represents more than just a healthcare financing mechanism, describing it as a social intervention aimed at supporting vulnerable families dealing with serious illnesses.
Push for Sustainable Healthcare Funding
The latest contribution by President Mahama and his appointees is expected to strengthen public awareness and support for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as government continues to explore sustainable financing options for healthcare.
The initiative reflects increasing attention being placed on non-communicable diseases in Ghana, particularly as cases of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney-related illnesses continue to rise.
Healthcare advocates have also welcomed efforts to create long term funding structures capable of supporting specialized treatment within the country instead of forcing patients to seek costly medical care abroad.
The Fund is expected to support ongoing government efforts aimed at improving specialist healthcare delivery while reducing the financial burden associated with chronic illnesses.
With additional contributions anticipated from the final salary deductions of asset declaration defaulters, government officials believe the initiative could become an important pillar in Ghana’s evolving healthcare financing system.
