Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama painted a dire picture of Ghana’s healthcare system, revealing significant financial liabilities and deteriorating medical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Health, he disclosed, is burdened with nearly GHS 15 billion in liabilities, including co-financing obligations, judgment debts, and unpaid medical imports.
According to President Mahama, Ghana’s hospitals have suffered from years of neglect, with most medical equipment left to deteriorate since the last major replacement program in 2014.
“The Agenda 111 program started as a knee-jerk reaction during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Ghanaian public began to appreciate the significant investment the previous NDC administration had made in health facilities and lament the many hospital projects that had stalled under the Akufo-Addo administration.”
President John Dramani Mahama
He further disclosed that, despite the government’s commitment to building 111 hospitals under the Agenda 111 initiative, no dedicated funding was secured to support the ambitious project.
He noted that, to date, not a single hospital under the initiative is fully operational anywhere in Ghana.
However, an estimated $400 million has already been spent on the project. Given that each hospital was projected to cost around $18 million, this amount should have been sufficient to complete at least 22 hospitals.
Now, an additional GHS 22 billion will be required to complete the remaining projects.
One of the biggest challenges currently facing the health sector, Mahama noted, is the sudden halt in services by USAID.
Without prior notice, the organization has placed a 90-day pause on its funding and may fully withdraw support for programs that do not align with the U.S. government’s strategic interests.
“USAID’s support for the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme, including the supply of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) in the Western, Western North, and Ahafo regions, is also affected.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The sudden withdrawal of these funds poses a serious financial challenge, placing critical healthcare programs in jeopardy.
An estimated $78 million in funding, which supports essential initiatives such as malaria prevention, maternal and child health, nutrition, and HIV/AIDS programs, is now at risk.
Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Mahama emphasized the potential consequences if immediate action is not taken.
To prevent a healthcare crisis, he has instructed the Minister for Finance to swiftly arrange alternative funding sources to offset the loss.
He further indicated that these financial provisions should be clearly outlined in the upcoming national budget, which is set to be presented next month.
Tackling Disease Outbreaks and Strengthening Healthcare
Addressing public health challenges, the President John Mahama expressed deep concern over the rising cases of cholera and meningitis.
Since October 2024, Ghana has been battling a severe cholera outbreak, with 6,300 suspected cases, 545 confirmed infections, and 49 deaths recorded as of February 17, 2025.
The epidemic has affected 118 districts in the Greater Accra, Central, Western, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions.
Mahama stated that his administration has launched an aggressive vaccination and public education campaign to curb the spread.
Another major concern is the outbreak of meningitis in the Upper West Region, where 135 suspected cases, 22 confirmed infections, and 16 deaths have been recorded across ten districts. “We have instituted free treatment for affected persons and deployed a national team of health experts to encourage early reporting to health facilities.”
Emphasizing the importance of sanitation in preventing disease outbreaks, Mahama pledged to correct past failures and ensure effective sanitation management.
“Sanitation within the context of infectious disease outbreaks, personal hygiene, and environmental sanitation must be a major priority. Our cities and towns must be cleaner than what is being delivered so far.”
President John Dramani Mahama
As part of his broader healthcare vision, Mahama outlined his government’s commitment to revitalizing mobile healthcare services.
He announced plans to revive the “ONUADOR” mobile healthcare vans, which will provide outpatient, ophthalmology, dental, ENT, and cancer screening services in remote and underserved communities.
The initiative, originally introduced by a previous NDC administration, was abandoned after 2017.
Mahama also underscored the importance of adapting to the ever-changing public health landscape.
He noted that health experts are facing the dual challenge of emerging new diseases while also contending with the resurgence of previously controlled illnesses. The unpredictable nature of disease outbreaks suggests we must make our health system resilient to shocks.”
MahamaCare: A Bold Step Towards Universal Healthcare
In alignment with the 2024 NDC manifesto, Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rolling out the Free Primary Healthcare Program, aimed at eliminating financial barriers to basic healthcare.
He described it as a crucial step toward achieving universal health coverage under Goal 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To support this initiative, Mahama revealed that the government is finalizing plans to establish the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as “MahamaCare”.
“This fund will be dedicated to financing the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which have seen a significant rise over the past decade.
“As part of this initiative, the government is committing to allocating financial resources towards this project in 2025, with further support to be mobilized from private sector partners to ensure the sustainability of the fund.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Once fully operational, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund will provide much-needed financial relief for patients requiring dialysis treatment, cancer care, and other essential interventions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mahama highlighted that this initiative, alongside the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, will create a comprehensive healthcare support system.
While the Free Primary Healthcare Programme will prioritize prevention, early detection, and timely treatment, MahamaCare will focus on easing the financial strain associated with managing chronic illnesses.
Together, these initiatives aim to transform Ghana’s healthcare system by improving accessibility, enhancing medical outcomes, and ultimately boosting national productivity and overall well-being.
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