The Paramount Chief of the Akuapem Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, has called for the protection and continuity of two key national healthcare interventions—the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, describing them as lifesaving policies that must not be discontinued by successive governments.
Speaking during a visit to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, the Akuapemhene stressed that both programmes are critical to strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system and should be safeguarded beyond political transitions.
He proposed that they be entrenched in the country’s legal framework, preferably within the Constitution, to guarantee their long-term sustainability.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund was established to support the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases, which account for an estimated 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana
It is designed to complement the National Health Insurance Scheme by covering high-cost treatments, advanced medical equipment, and specialist care often beyond the reach of many citizens.
The Free Primary Healthcare initiative, on the other hand, aims to provide essential health services at no cost at the first point of care.
It focuses on prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment of common illnesses, with the goal of reducing financial barriers and encouraging early healthcare-seeking behaviour.
“These are interventions that support and stabilise health systems globally,” Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III noted, drawing comparisons with established healthcare models in other jurisdictions.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for supporting such initiatives and urged sustained public education and advocacy to protect them.
“I want to convey this message clearly—these interventions must be enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution so that no future government can dismantle them and disrupt our healthcare stability,” he stated.
The Chief, accompanied by members of his royal household, also used the visit to engage with officials of the Fund and check on one of their own, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
He inquired about operations, challenges, and offered his support and encouragement.
He urged staff of the Fund to remain committed to their mandate and continue serving with dedication, integrity, and purpose.
In response, Ms. Darko-Opoku expressed gratitude for the visit, describing it as humbling and motivating.
She pledged to work diligently to make Okuapeman proud, while outlining the Fund’s mandate and calling for continued nationwide support to sustain its operations.
The visit underscored growing calls for sustained investment in healthcare reforms, with stakeholders emphasizing that initiatives such as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and Free Primary Healthcare are vital national lifelines that must be preserved for future generations.
