The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Secretariat, Obuobia Darko-Poku has reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare under the Mahama Cares Initiative, with the commissioning of a new Cervical Cancer Screening Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Madam Darko-Poku described the event as a defining moment in Ghana’s collective effort to strengthen the healthcare system — “one act of compassion and one fulfilled promise at a time.”
She commended Telecel Ghana and the Telecel Foundation, partners of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, for their steadfast collaboration and practical support in the fight against cervical cancer. According to her, the establishment of the centre marks “the continuation of a promise made and a promise kept.”
The Administrator noted that since the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares, earlier this year at the University of Ghana Medical School, Telecel Ghana has remained one of the first corporate entities to fulfill its pledge.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, she explained, was established to bridge critical gaps in the country’s healthcare system by supporting patients in need, empowering medical professionals through specialist training, and strengthening hospitals with modern equipment and infrastructure.
She lauded the partnership between the Ministry of Health, Telecel Ghana, the Telecel Foundation, and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, describing it as a model of what can be achieved when compassion meets collaboration.
Madam Darko-Poku expressed gratitude to the Telecel Foundation for demonstrating true corporate responsibility by investing in the health and wellbeing of communities and to the leadership and staff of Korle Bu for their dedication to saving lives.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the Group CEO of Telecel Group, Mr. Moh Damush reaffirmed the company’s commitment to using its resources and technology to improve lives beyond business.
“At Telecel, we believe that connectivity transcends technology. It is also about human progress. Today’s partnership is a demonstration of that belief in action,” he said.
Mr. Damush emphasized that the initiative forms part of Telecel’s broader vision of placing health and education at the centre of sustainable development, noting that women are the social and economic pillars of every African community.
He added that the Telecel Ghana Foundation will further extend care through mobile clinics and telemedicine services to reach underserved communities across the country.
Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh described the donation as a practical example of the Government’s Mahama Cares Programme, which encourages public-private partnerships to improve access to healthcare.
“I am excited not just because we are commissioning this project, but because Telecel are people who walk the talk. They have fulfilled their promise. I remember in May when Telecel Ghana, led by its CEO Madam Patricia Obo-Nai, visited my office to express the company’s intention to partner government under Mahama Cares. Today, we are here and I want to thank you very much,” he said.
The Minister announced that Telecel, through its Foundation, has donated and installed modern cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment equipment valued at approximately US$380,000 across three major health facilities — the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital, and Sefwi Wiawso Government Hospital. The equipment includes gynaecological examination couches and lamps, essential for accurate screening, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of cervical lesions.
He further revealed that Telecel has committed to supply all necessary equipment and consumables for the first two years of operation, a move he described as “a responsible partnership model that promotes sustainability and continuity of care.”
According to Hon. Akandoh, the new installations are expected to detect at least 2,800 undiagnosed cases of cervical cancer annually, with over 10,000 women benefiting directly from screening and early intervention within the next two years
The Minister also highlighted that the commissioning of the new centre coincides with Ghana’s introduction of the HPV vaccine into its routine immunization programme, launched in Osu earlier this week. The nationwide exercise aims to vaccinate 2.4 million girls aged 9 to 14 years over five days, offering protection against the virus responsible for more than 95% of cervical cancer cases.
Hon. Akandoh extended appreciation on behalf of H.E. John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana to the Telecel Group for their foresight, generosity, and commitment to national development. He also lauded the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Secretariat, the Ghana Health Service, and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital management for their collaboration in bringing the vision to fruition.
The equipments donated included HPV testing kits, digital colposcopes, and biopsy instruments for cervical cancer diagnosis. Telecel Ghana Foundation also pledged to cover the operational costs of these new machines for a period of two years at the three recipient centers.
Story By: Eric Boateng
