GH¢6.1 million from Mahama, appointees and staff transferred to Ghana Medical Trust Fund

The Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has announced that GH¢6.1 million has been transferred to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, to support patients suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

The amount comprises salary donations from President John Dramani Mahama, political appointees, Jubilee House staff and deductions from officials who failed to meet asset declaration deadlines.

Speaking at the Jubilee House on Monday, June 15, during a briefing on the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Nana Oye said the contribution forms part of a commitment by the President and his appointees to support the initiative through personal sacrifices.

"Our President, John Dramani Mahama, showed the way, and colleagues we have followed with a patriotic answer. We answered the call today. We are gathered here to formally present the proceeds of that answer," she said.

According to her, President Mahama had pledged six months of his salary as seed funding for the initiative and subsequently encouraged his appointees to contribute one month's salary in support of the fund.

She explained that the Controller and Accountant-General had already completed the transfer of the funds to the trust fund.

"The Controller and Accountant General have already transferred the amount of GH¢6.1 million to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, comprising the President's salary donation and our contributions as presidential appointees and staffers, and deductions for those who failed to meet asset declaration deadlines," Nana Oye stated.

"These salary donations came with real sacrifices, bills that had to wait, plans that had to be deferred, commitments that had to be renegotiated. We all knew the cost, and we paid it anyway," she added.

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund was launched by the Mahama administration to provide financial assistance to patients battling chronic and life-threatening diseases and to ease the burden of medical expenses on affected families.

The administration has described the initiative as a key social intervention aimed at improving access to healthcare and ensuring that patients are not denied treatment because of financial constraints.