The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has pledged to donate an additional three months of his salary towards the construction of a proposed cardiac centre in the Volta Region, while appealing to road contractors to voluntarily support the project.

Mr Agbodza made the announcement during President John Dramani Mahama's Citizens' Engagement in the Volta Region, where he praised the President's commitment to improving healthcare and urged both public officials and private sector partners to contribute towards expanding specialised medical services in the region.

Addressing the gathering, the Roads Minister described President Mahama as a leader committed not only to infrastructure development but also to the health and wellbeing of Ghanaians.

"Your Excellency, you are passionate about everything in our country—roads, education and everything. But there is something I see in you that you are very passionate about, and that is to see Ghanaians healthy and happy," he said.

Mr Agbodza commended the President's appointment of Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, saying the choice reflected the administration's determination to strengthen Ghana's healthcare system.

He also noted that the roads sector had received the largest share of the government's capital expenditure since President Mahama assumed office, adding that infrastructure development and healthcare should be pursued simultaneously.

According to the minister, the government's flagship Ghana Medical Trust Fund deserves broad public support because quality healthcare benefits every Ghanaian, including contractors and workers in the roads sector.

"Your flagship healthcare programme, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, is something that we should all take seriously. Contractors, people working at the Ministry of Roads and Highways and our staff all seek healthcare," he said.

Mr Agbodza's remarks came after President Mahama directed that a new cardiac centre should be established in the Volta Region following appeals from residents and stakeholders for improved access to specialised cardiovascular care.

The Roads Minister said many contractors executing government road projects already undertake corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the construction of schools, clinics and water facilities, and appealed to them to extend similar support to the proposed cardiac centre.

"I know the volume of money we pay to contractors for their work, and many of them do more than just build roads. They undertake corporate social responsibility by supporting schools, clinics, water projects and other community initiatives," he said.

"I wish, for the sake of President Mahama, the Health Minister and the people of the Volta Region, that my contractors will step forward and say, 'We will contribute and build it on our own.'"

Mr Agbodza estimated that the project would require about US$15 million, describing the amount as achievable through a collective effort involving government officials and the private sector.

He disclosed that Members of Parliament and ministers had already committed portions of their salaries towards the initiative before announcing his own additional pledge.

"It is just US$15 million. Members of Parliament and ministers have committed our salaries to that. Today, Mr President, I will commit three more months of my total salary to that," he declared to applause from the audience.

The minister stressed that his appeal to contractors was not intended to pressure them into making donations, insisting that any support would be entirely voluntary.

"I will not threaten any contractor that if you do not contribute to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, I have no power to do anything to you," he said.

However, he added that he intended to request a record of voluntary contributions made to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as preparations continue for the second phase of the government's Big Push infrastructure programme.

"The Big Push Phase Two is being prepared. I will just tell you quietly that I will be asking the boss of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to furnish me with all voluntary contributions, including my own. So when we are sharing the next phase of the Big Push, we shall see how we share it," he stated.