MahamaCares Fund to Prioritize Ghanaians Aged 18–45 Living with Chronic Illnesses
ACCRA, Ghana — April 29, 2025 — The newly launched MahamaCares Initiative, officially known as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, will prioritize Ghanaians aged 18 to 45 living with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced.
Speaking at the launch of the fund in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Akandoh stated the initiative is a fulfilment of a health financing pledge made by President John Dramani Mahama during the 2024 election campaign.
“Available estimates show that NCDs account for approximately 43% of all-cause mortality in Ghana, with a sharp increase recorded between 2012 and 2023,” Akandoh said.
“What is even more worrying is that individuals aged between 18 and 45 — the most productive segment of our population — now constitute over 50% of NCD cases.”
The MahamaCares Fund is designed to support care for life-threatening and long-term conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension complications, chronic kidney failure, and stroke. Support will focus on specialist-level services and address healthcare gaps not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Akandoh also highlighted the financial toll of chronic illness on families:
“The average cost of care is around GH¢53,000 per patient, and individuals diagnosed with chronic conditions have a 75% chance of falling into poverty within five years,” he noted.
He announced that a major barrier to the fund’s operation had been addressed:
“The lifting of the cap on the National Health Insurance Fund means we now have a more predictable source of funding for people in need,” he added.
A recent survey of over 3,300 Ghanaians revealed strong public backing, with more than half expressing a willingness to contribute monthly to support the fund.
Mr. Akandoh acknowledged the task force led by Rev. Prof. Emeritus Seth Ayittey for developing the policy framework, and emphasized that the Fund aligns with Ghana’s National Health Policy and the Roadmap for Universal Health Coverage (2020–2030).
He concluded by urging all health sector agencies to rally behind the Fund’s rollout and reiterated President Mahama’s call for private sector support as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
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