The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), Adjoa Obuobia Darkoa Opoku, has stated that President John Dramani Mahama considers inadequate access to healthcare in Ghana a national emergency.
According to her, many Ghanaians suffering from serious illnesses are unable to access proper treatment due to financial difficulties, inadequate medical equipment, and the limited availability of specialised healthcare services across the country.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, May 11, 2026, Obuobia explained that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund was established to ease the burden faced by families dealing with chronic illnesses.
She noted that chronic non-communicable diseases account for approximately 43 percent of deaths in Ghana, making access to specialised healthcare an urgent national concern.
“Before the establishment of the GMTF, specialised medical care was often considered a luxury for many Ghanaians. A man in Sefwi Yawso needing chemotherapy, the barriers were overwhelming, alongside the concentration of specialists in only Accra and Kumasi,” she stated.
According to her, the Trust Fund is designed to create a dedicated and sustainable financing system that provides financial relief to patients while expanding world-class specialised healthcare services to all regions of Ghana.
She added that beyond supporting patients, the fund also seeks to improve healthcare infrastructure and build specialist medical capacity across Africa.
Obuobia explained that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is financed through 20 percent of the National Health Insurance Levy, government budgetary allocations, grants, investments, voluntary contributions, and donations from individuals and institutions.
She disclosed that President Mahama has donated six months of his salary to support the initiative, while several government appointees have also pledged portions of their salaries to the fund.
The GMTF Administrator further revealed that organisations and philanthropic bodies, including CompuGhana, have contributed to the fund, describing the support as a demonstration of collective commitment toward improving healthcare delivery and supporting vulnerable patients nationwide.
Highlighting some achievements of the initiative, she said the Trust Fund has facilitated the procurement of critical medical equipment, including dialysis machines, ICU beds, and patient monitors.
The equipment has reportedly been distributed to facilities such as Sunyani Teaching Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, and Volta Regional Hospital to strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
She stressed that the long-term goal of the GMTF is to ensure that no Ghanaian is denied quality healthcare because of financial hardship and appealed to citizens, institutions, and development partners to continue supporting the initiative.
, Adjoa Obuobia Darkoa Opoku, has stated that President John Dramani Mahama considers inadequate access to healthcare in Ghana a national emergency.){kind=link}