Eleven security agencies have donated GH¢1 million to support the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as The MahamaCares,, an initiative aimed at tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who presented the cheque to President John Dramani Mahama at the presidency on May 20, 2025, said that many people in Ghana are in urgent need of healthcare.
He stated that those in the security services are fortunate to receive government support when they are unwell.
Because of this, the IGP said senior officers from the various security agencies came together voluntarily to support the President’s initiative.
The event saw the presence of key officials including the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak; the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; and the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
Also in attendance were representatives from the contributing organisations such as the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ghana Prisons Service, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the National Identification Authority (NIA).
President Mahama, after receiving the cheque, thanked the security agencies for their support.
He mentioned that since the launch of Mahama Care, efforts have been made to draft a bill to give the initiative legal backing.
He says a committee was set up and has since submitted policy guidelines, which were used to prepare the bill.
According to him, Cabinet has now approved the bill, and it will be sent to Parliament for further action.
Once Parliament passes it into law, he said, it will pave the way for the appointment of independent trustees to manage the fund.
President Mahama emphasised the severe impact of NCDs, which accounted for about 40 per cent of deaths in Ghana.
They include kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, various cancers and diabetes.
He stated that the high cost of diagnosis and treatment often placed a heavy financial strain on affected families.
“Even the wealthiest individuals can face financial ruin within a year of battling a non-communicable disease,” the President said, underscoring the need for collective efforts to address the issue.
“Once passed into law, the fund will be managed by independent trustees, reputable individuals appointed to ensure transparency and accountability,” he stated.
Sourcing of funding for the initiative includes the uncapped portion of the National Health Insurance Levy, budgetary allocations, corporate donations and grants from development partners.
President Mahama revealed that substantial contributions had already been made at the fund’s launch, including his pledge of six months’ salary.
