The Melcom Care Foundation, the humanitarian arm of the Melcom Group of Companies, has donated GH¢500,000 to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund in support of the Fund’s ongoing ‘Heal Ghana Month’ campaign.
The donation was presented during a visit by Melcom’s Group Managing Director, Ramesh Sadhwani, and Group Executive Director, Sonya Sadhwani, to the Secretariat of the Trust Fund in Accra.
‘Heal Ghana Month’ is a continuation of the Fund’s February fundraising drive dubbed ‘Kyere Wo Do’, meaning ‘Show Your Love’.
The campaign, which appealed to individuals and institutions to support patients battling chronic non-communicable diseases, raised GH¢76,910, $570 and €1,000 to support patient care.
Speaking during the presentation, Mr Sadhwani said the Foundation decided to support the initiative after observing the growing impact of the Trust Fund through various media reports.
“We have come across a lot of media publications on the work of the Trust Fund, which is an initiative of President John Dramani Mahama, and we felt it was worthy for us to add the little bit we can. Hopefully, under your guidance, it will go a long way in helping Ghanaians,” he said.
Mr Sadhwani explained that the Melcom Care Foundation was established as a vehicle through which the company channels a portion of its earnings into community support initiatives.
The Foundation focuses primarily on health and education, making its support for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund a natural extension of its corporate social responsibility agenda.
The Melcom Group, one of Ghana’s largest retail chains with 80 stores nationwide and over 36 years of service, said it was particularly encouraged by the Fund’s mission to support people living with chronic non-communicable diseases and give them a second chance at life.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the Fund, the Administrator, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, underscored the significance of the contribution, noting that Ghana faces a growing public health challenge.
According to her, 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana are attributed to non-communicable diseases, placing a heavy burden on families due to the high cost of treatment.
“Our mandate is to ensure that Ghanaians diagnosed with non-communicable diseases, which are often associated with catastrophic treatment costs, are relieved of that burden and fully supported by the Trust Fund.
“We bring hope and support to patients, and I can say our presence has already brought relief to many,” she said.
On behalf of the President, the Board of Trustees and the management of the Fund, Ms Darko-Opoku expressed profound gratitude to the Melcom Care Foundation for what she described as a “huge gesture”.
She also expressed optimism that the partnership would continue, particularly as corporate contributions to the Fund qualify for 100 per cent tax deduction, making it easier for businesses to support the initiative while contributing to national healthcare delivery.