The Chief Executive of Engineers & Planners and Dzata Cement Mr Ibrahim Mahama is well noted for his charitable and philanthropic endeavours both in and outside Ghana.
In 2015, Mr Ibrahim Mahama dredged the Odaw River for free and at no cost to the Ghanaian tax payer; this was his contribution to addressing the perennial flood problems in Accra and in July 2024, it was reported in the media that Ibrahim Mahama donated 20 Police vehicles and generators to the Liberia Airport Authority.
There are many instances where Mr Ibrahim Mahama came to the aid of some patients who could not afford their medical bills; a case in point is his recent payment of $25000 for the medical care of a 13-year-old girl kidney patient.
Although Mr Ibrahim Mahama’s humanitarian and corporate social responsibility works have no political colouration and his Business Empire is apolitical, one can draw similarities between his contributions to charitable causes, and his senior brother President Mahama’s promise to set up Ghana Medical Care Trust(Mahamacares) when he becomes President on 7th January 2025.
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service(NHS) was established in 1948 to provide quality health services to the citizens. The UK NHS is one of the best national health services in the world and it has been undergoing reforms since its inception to ensure that the service responds to emerging challenges in health care delivery in the UK. One of such reforms was the establishment of the NHS Trust in the 1990s under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
The NDC’s 2024 Manifesto: Resetting Ghana is proposing to establish the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund (MAHAMACARES) to support the cost of health care for persons with chronic diseases such as kidney failure (dialysis), cancers, Sickle Cell disease, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular(heart) diseases.
Some of the benefits of Health Care or Medical Care Trust are:
* There is real involvement of local people in running the Trust through becoming members and an elected Council of Governors or Trustees
* The Trust is accountable to local people for the quality of services they provide
* The Trust can raise money for changing and improving services from several sources including charitable donations and are not restricted to using only Government funds.
* The Trust has to ensure they are managing their finances in a more business-like way
For instance, The Great Ormond Street Hospital GOSH) is a specialist Children’s hospital in the UK. Its charity wing – GOSH Children’s Charity undertakes fundraising activities in order to invest in development, research and innovation, welfare and clinical development projects, medical equipments and capital infrastructure.
President Mahama’s proposed Ghana Medical Trust dubbed “Mahamacares” when well-planned and embedded in Ghana’s health care delivery is likely to attract funding from charitable sources both in and outside Ghana.
As it is the case in the UK, public spirited individuals like Mr Ibrahim Mahama may be encouraged and motivated to be making regular donations to Ghana Medical Care Trust for the treatment of patients with chronic diseases.
I am calling on Ghanaian voters to vote massively for President Mahama and all parliamentary candidates of National Democratic Congress on 7th December 2024, so that together we can start : Resetting Ghana : For Jobs, Accountability and Prosperity.
Alhaji Alhassan Mbalba
Former Chairman
NDC- UK/Ireland Chapter
