Prof. John Gatsi Urges Corporate Ghana to Prioritise Support for ‘Mahama Cares’ Fund through CSR Initiatives
Dean of the University of Cape Coast Business School, Professor John Gatsi, has called on corporate Ghana to throw its weight behind the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, widely known as Mahama Cares, through sustained and strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments.
In a statement endorsing the growing wave of support for the fund, Prof. Gatsi lauded contributions by companies such as Coca-Cola, Unilever, the MTN Ghana Foundation, and Johnson & Johnson to national healthcare interventions. He stressed that their involvement underscores the essential role the private sector plays in complementing government efforts to address public health challenges, especially chronic diseases.
“Government should actively encourage companies to channel a reasonable share of their CSR budgets to Mahama Cares,” Prof. Gatsi noted, adding that CSR initiatives are tax-deductible and thus offer financial incentives for firms to commit more resources.
The Mahama Cares fund, which seeks to provide critical support to Ghanaians battling chronic illnesses, has emerged as a key national health programme. The fund’s scope and humanitarian impact, Prof. Gatsi argued, should move corporate leaders beyond mere compliance to a place of proactive support.
The MTN Ghana Foundation alone has invested over $13 million in CSR interventions across healthcare, education, and economic empowerment, with a considerable portion directed toward medical support. Similarly, the GNPC Foundation continues to fund various healthcare infrastructure projects across the country.
Prof. Gatsi urged both Ghanaian-owned businesses and multinational corporations operating in the country to heed President John Mahama’s call and incorporate Mahama Cares into their annual CSR plans. “This should trigger humanitarian consciousness among all CEOs and CSR committees to make significant and consistent contributions to sustain the fund,” he emphasised.
Importantly, the UCC Business School Dean cautioned against politicising the initiative. “It is crucial not to politicize this laudable initiative, as chronic illnesses transcend political affiliations,” he stated.
With chronic health conditions on the rise and public health infrastructure often stretched, Prof. Gatsi’s appeal serves as a timely reminder of the urgent need for collective action – a call that business leaders are now expected to answer with action and empathy.
