The presidency has taken up the full cost of surgery to be performed on the conjoined twins at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge).

The Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, made the disclosure when she visited the twins and their parents at the Ridge Hospital on Monday morning.

“It is my pleasure to announce that the President has said that all related costs, all the cost of this exercise, the state is willing to take over and is ready to take over the cost,” she said.

Madam Osei Opare said the presidency is allocating GH¢15million to pay for the entire procedure.

Out of the amount, GH¢12million will be spent on a specialised equipment needed for the surgery. This equipment will become an asset of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) after the surgery.

The amount of GH¢3million will be used to procure consumables, medication, and tests that the family would have had to pay for, during the 12-18-month procedure to separate the Siamese twins.

“The President recognises the fact that this effort that you want to put in, is very much in line with the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. We also noted in a cabinet meeting that this is an opportunity to also equip us to do complicated surgeries and so on,” the Chief of staff told the doctors.

Applauding the team of medical doctors, she said when the Minister of Health informed the cabinet of the, “unique case in Ghana, conjoined twins and that our Ghanaian doctors have taken upon themselves, a responsibility to undertake the separation here in Ghana, it was received with a lot of Joy.”

“Medical Director, team leader, consultant, it is my pleasure to announce that the President takes this as a historic opportunity, one that would save lives, save the family from a problem that they may not be able to deal with in the future but also build capacity for Ghana. This is a historic effort that you want to make. I am glad that you are working as a team,” Mrs Opare said.

The Chief of staff also called on Ghanaians to support the doctors and the twins with prayers for a successful operation.

 “We are also going to back you in prayers, I will even call on all Ghanaians to back our daughters with prayers because this is a historic moment and they need not just our money, they need our moral support to know that there is a nation behind them.”

Director of Institutional Care Division at Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea expressed appreciation for the gesture saying the support from the Presidency and the people of Ghana will bring smiles to the young twins and the family.

“This shows the great interest in the welfare of the twins, that, in a time of a national call, Ghanaians have responded,” Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea said.

This announcement comes after weeks of campaigning by Joy News, led by Super Morning Show host, Kojo Yankson to raise funds to foot the GH¢3million bill the family has been asked to pay for the life-saving surgery.