President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to roll out a nationwide primary healthcare initiative aimed at early detection and prevention of non-communicable diseases, alongside increased government funding for specialised treatment.
Addressing congregants at the 23rd Anniversary and Thanksgiving Service of the First Sky Group in Accra, Mahama said Ghana is facing a growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, kidney failure, stroke and cancer.
“Non-communicable diseases are not infectious. They are acquired through lifestyle and genetics,” he said, warning that reduced physical activity and poor dietary habits were increasing health risks.
The President said the government will this year launch a primary healthcare system that deploys community coordinators to conduct door-to-door health checks, including blood pressure and blood sugar testing.
“These coordinators will go from house to house with simple equipment to measure your blood pressure and test your sugar levels,” he explained. “If there is a problem, you can go to your community pharmacy and access cheaper generic drugs.”
Mahama also revealed that the 2026 budget has allocated GHC2.1 billion to the Mahama Care programme, which will support the treatment of non-communicable diseases, including stroke, kidney disease and cancer.
“These diseases are extremely expensive to treat. Even wealthy families can be reduced to poverty trying to save a loved one,” he said, adding that government intervention was necessary to prevent financial ruin.
He praised First Sky for supporting kidney transplants and dialysis treatment, urging other corporate bodies to emulate the company’s philanthropic efforts.
“Government alone cannot do it. That is why companies like First Sky must be commended, and others must follow their example,” Mahama said.
The President also pointed to what he described as a rapid economic turnaround, attributing recent gains to discipline and divine grace. He cited a sharp drop in inflation, improved fiscal balances, and a significant appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi.
“For the first time in years, the cedi has appreciated by 37 percent in one year,” he said. “Even the IMF and World Bank are surprised at what Ghana has achieved.”
Mahama concluded by urging workers to treat their workplaces as their own, stressing that productivity and integrity were essential to sustaining growth.
“If the company grows, you will grow with it,” he said.
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