Accra: The Ghana NCD Alliance, Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, and other civil society organizations have commended President John Dramani Mahama and Parliament for the passage of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as ‘MahamaCares’, into law. “We the civil society actors and people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) warmly welcome the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and receive this bold and timely intervention with profound gratitude and renewed hope,” they stated.
According to Ghana News Agency, this commendation was part of a joint statement from Mr. Labram Musah, the National Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance, and the Executive Director of Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana). The statement emphasized the transformative journey from a party campaign manifesto promise to the official launch and successful passage in Parliament, culminating in the President’s assent. This development is considered a testament to the government’s commitment to reducing the catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses faced daily by individuals and families living with NCDs.
The statement highlighted President Mahama’s personal donation of his six months’ salary as a seed fund, reflecting his understanding of the urgency of the NCDs crisis in Ghana. This act, along with the establishment of a governing board to oversee the Fund’s implementation, indicates a serious intent to ensure effective management of the Fund.
The appointment of Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku as the Administrator to lead the initiative was also praised in the statement. Her role will be pivotal in building a robust and sustainable mechanism for NCD care in Ghana. The CSOs encouraged her to adopt a multisectoral approach, working collaboratively with ministries, agencies, civil society, professional associations, research institutions, development partners, and the private sector.
The establishment of the Trust Fund is seen as a significant step toward addressing longstanding challenges faced by individuals, families, and communities affected by NCDs, including diabetes, hypertension, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory conditions, and mental health disorders. For too long, Ghanaians, particularly the poor and underserved, have borne the burden of inadequate access to essential NCD services, limited financial protection, and weak health system responsiveness.
The CSOs also raised concerns over the limited stakeholder engagement preceding the passage of the Trust Fund. They referenced the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework, emphasizing the need for meaningful engagement of patients, caregivers, civil society, and professional bodies in policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring. Such inclusion is crucial for building trust, ensuring relevance, and improving accountability.
The statement also pointed out the open-ended provision for funding sources in Clause ‘3’ of the Act, warning that without explicit safeguards, the Fund risks infiltration by industries known to contribute to NCDs, such as tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages. The CSOs recommended developing formal guidelines for private sector engagement to protect the Fund from these industries.
To ensure sustainability and independence, the CSOs suggested that at least 50 percent of excise tax revenues should be ring-fenced to support the Fund, aligning with global best practices. They also called on the Ministry of Finance and Ghana Revenue Authority to increase excise tax rates on health-harmful products, rejecting any industry lobbying for tax reductions.
The CSOs expressed hope that the operationalization of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund would be participatory, transparent, and evidence-driven. They recommended protecting the Fund and supplementary health policies from commercial interests, strengthening decentralization measures, and guaranteeing equitable access to NCD diagnostics, treatment, and care, especially in rural areas.
Finally, the CSOs assured their commitment to collaborating with relevant ministries, agencies, and development partners to ensure the initiative’s success, emphasizing that together, they can ensure no one is left behind.