An emergency intervention by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), ahead of its official rollout, has given seven Ghanaians a renewed chance at life, marking a strong start to the Fund’s pilot phase.

Among the beneficiaries are two babies under the age of two and a four-year-old child battling congenital heart defects (holes-in-heart) at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Cardiothoracic Centre.

Two other patients, including a 12-year-old girl and a 53-year-old man requiring urgent neurosurgery, also received full financial support at the hospital’s surgical department.

At the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), a 25-year-old man diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Trust Fund fully covered his medical bills.

Another beneficiary, Rebecca Odarquaye, is now set to undergo a life-saving brain surgery at a daunting cost of GH¢210,840.

The Ghana Medical Trust Fund—an initiative of President John Dramani Mahama—was established to provide financial support to Ghanaians with severe, high-cost chronic illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, and heart disease, which are not fully covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Although the Fund is yet to be formally rolled out, its Administrator, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has announced the launch of a 50-case pilot programme, with three critically ill patients selected from each region.

“We want to ensure regional balance. That is why we have tasked CEOs and Medical Directors of specialised health facilities across the country to submit details of patients with critical conditions.

"The Fund will pay their medical bills in full to give them another chance at life,” she explained.

As part of this pilot, the Administrator and her team visited the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and presented a cheque for GH¢447,000 as full payment for heart surgery for Nadiya Borenasa Mahama, Eldad Ayilaka, and Haalid Ofori-Ibrahim.

An additional GH¢198,000 was paid on behalf of 12-year-old Queena Yen Dobil and 53-year-old David Yeboah to enable them to undergo critical neurosurgeries at the same facility.

At UGMC, the Trust Fund also settled the full medical bill of GH¢25,750 for 25-year-old Aminu Taibu, paving the way for his heart surgery.

Meanwhile, at Euracare Spring Hospital, 36-year-old midwife Rebecca Odarquaye—who has been battling a brain aneurysm—was visibly relieved and hopeful when the Administrator arrived with full payment for her surgery.

Her plight had earlier been highlighted by JoyNews following her public appeal for support to enable her continue caring for expectant mothers. Doctors had warned that only urgent surgery could save her life.

According to Ms Darko-Opoku, the Trust Fund—popularly known as “Mahama Cares”—was created to bring hope to Ghanaians facing life-threatening medical conditions.

“The Fund exists to ensure that no Ghanaian suffers or dies simply because they cannot afford critical medical care,” she stated.

While expressing gratitude to President Mahama for the initiative, the Administrator also appealed to the public to support the Fund, stressing that sustained national backing is key to expanding its life-saving impact.