Deputy Minister of Health designate: Medical Trust Fund Bill game changer

The Deputy Minister of Health designate, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, says the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Bill, popularly known as ‘Mahama Cares’, is a game-changer for the country's medical system. 

The Bill, the professor of surgeon said, would provide a much-needed safety net for Ghanaians struggling with chronic diseases and were unable to afford medical care.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who is the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Essikado-Ketan in the Western Region, said this during her vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament last Friday.

"There are a lot of Ghanaians who are waiting for this Bill who have been suffering in silence, who have been begging for money. People are dying today as we speak because they don't have money. Once that Bill kicks in, I believe that they will have enough money to support those suffering from chronic diseases," Dr Ayensu-Danquah said.

Background

The Bill which was passed by Parliament on July 22, 2025 is for the establishment of a dedicated fund to support specialised medical care for chronic and life-threatening conditions such as cancer, stroke, kidney failure and diabetes.

It seeks to improve access to critical healthcare services for Ghanaians battling non-communicable diseases by providing financial assistance through a specially designated trust.

Healthcare financing

The Deputy Minister of Health designate said the Bill was the next step in the country’s healthcare financing system, adding that it would provide a comprehensive approach to healthcare financing, building on the progress made by previous governments.

"I believe that this Bill is a game-changer for our medical system and I believe Ghanaians are really waiting for it. It's the next step in our health system, the next step in our health financing and the next step in how we're going to keep Ghanaians healthy," Dr Ayensu-Danquah added.

Dr Ayensu-Danquah acknowledged the shortage of doctors, nurses and midwives across the country, particularly in underserved areas.

She revealed that her sector minister had already taken steps to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, including bringing back 10,000 doctors into the health system and working on absorbing unemployed nurses and allied health professionals.

"The last time I checked on my update with him, I believe about 10,000 doctors have already been brought back into the health system. They're still in the process of putting a lot of nurses and allied health people into the health system," Dr Ayensu-Danquah said.

Road safety

The Deputy Minister for Transport designate, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, taking her turn at the vetting session, said she would work with her sector minister, stakeholders and all relevant agencies to curb road accidents.

She said the carnage on the country’s roads could be minimised through constant education, enforcement of existing laws and technology.

“I will assist my minister to help curb road accidents through education, technology and enforcement of existing laws,” she said.

Ms Affo-Toffey, who is the MP for Jomoro in the Western Region, pledged to work with her sector minister to revamp the country's railway sector to enhance the transportation of goods and services.

She acknowledged the challenges facing the railway sector, including encroachment on lands and administrative issues.

She pledged to support her minister in addressing these challenges and ensuring that the railway sector was revamped to promote efficient transportation of goods and services.

Women empowerment

Ms Affo-Toffey also highlighted the importance of women empowerment in the transport sector, noting that women were often left out of the sector.

She pledged to work with the Women Caucus in Parliament to promote women's participation in the sector and ensure that at least 30 per cent of recruits in the sector were women.

"We will work to ensure that more women are driving our public buses, and that at least 30 per cent of recruits in the sector are women," Ms Affo-Toffey said.