President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to donate six months of his salary to the newly launched Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares.
The fund is aimed at supporting Ghanaians in need of specialised medical care not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), especially those suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, and heart conditions.
According to the President, the fund is designed to ease the financial burden of treatment and improve access to life-saving healthcare for vulnerable citizens.
Speaking at the launch held at the University of Ghana Medical Centre on Tuesday, April 29, Mr. Mahama revealed that although he has not yet started receiving his salary, six months of it will be donated to the initiative once payment processes are completed.
“On that note, I also, as the initiator of this laudable programme, would have to give something. And so I’ve pledged half a year—six months—of my salary to Mahama Cares.
“I’m not yet being paid. They say the Accountant General is still doing something, but whenever the Accountant General finishes, six months of whatever I’m entitled to will go into Mahama Cares,” he said.
The President appealed to the corporate sector and other stakeholders to contribute to the fund to ensure that individuals battling chronic diseases can access the support they need.
Mr. Mahama also shared that he had lost his father, mother, friends, and employees to chronic illnesses, stressing the need for urgent national support systems.
He debunked the perception that such diseases only affect the wealthy, noting that the poor are equally affected and often left without the means to seek treatment.
