The Christian Council of Ghana has pledged its full support for the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), promising to use its nationwide network of churches to advocate for the Fund and mobilise support for its mission of providing critical medical care to vulnerable Ghanaians.
The Executive Secretary of the Council, Rev. Dr Cyril G. K. Fayose, said the work of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund aligned closely with the Christian responsibility to care for the sick and alleviate human suffering.
He made the commitment when the leadership of the GMTF, led by its Administrator, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, and a member of its Board of Directors, Hon. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, met with the Christian Council.
Rev. Dr Fayose said the Council considered the work of the Trust Fund an extension of the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and pledged to support the institution “through and through.”
“For us, this is the work of God. Jesus Christ went about healing the sick and alleviating the pain and suffering of people.
When you provide treatment and hope to someone who otherwise could not afford medical care, you are doing a work that is at the very heart of our Christian calling,” he said.
He disclosed that the Christian Council had been consulted during the conception of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and therefore understood the importance and potential impact of the initiative.
Rev. Dr Fayose commended the leadership of the Trust Fund, particularly its Administrator, for the progress made within its first year of operation.
He said the cases of patients who had received life-saving treatment through the intervention of the Fund demonstrated the need for churches, corporate institutions, philanthropists and individuals to support its mission.
The Christian Council, he said, would become one of the Fund’s “crusaders” by leveraging its extensive network of churches and congregations to create awareness, highlight the impact of the Trust Fund and encourage donations.
The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, said the institution was established on the conviction that no Ghanaian should lose their life simply because they cannot afford or access essential medical treatment.
She highlighted the financial difficulties faced by families dealing with serious illnesses, including the depletion of savings and difficult choices between medical treatment and other basic needs.
Ms Darko-Opoku said some patients delay seeking critical care because of the cost involved, making timely financial support crucial in life-threatening situations.
“Sometimes, the difference between someone receiving treatment and losing their life is simply the availability of financial support at the right time.
This is the gap that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund seeks to help address,” she said.
She described the Christian Council as a strategic partner because of the Church’s extensive reach, credibility and longstanding contribution to healthcare, education and social development.
According to her, churches could support the Fund by mobilising congregations, participating in fundraising efforts and helping to build a national culture in which saving lives is regarded as a collective responsibility.
Ms Darko-Opoku challenged the Christian community to help create a society where churches would be able to confidently respond to members in need of life-saving medical care rather than look away because of financial constraints.
She clarified that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund was not established to replace existing healthcare financing arrangements but to complement them by helping to address critical gaps that prevent vulnerable patients from accessing specialised treatment.
The engagement is expected to deepen collaboration between the Christian Council and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as both institutions work towards improving access to life-saving healthcare for people who cannot afford critical medical interventions.
