KEY POINTS
- Alhaji Seidu Agongo donated GH¢500,000 to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, fulfilling a pledge to address healthcare inequities and highlighting the link between public health and economic stability.
- Systemic challenges, such as the prohibitive cost of dialysis (GH¢8,400 monthly) in a low-income economy, underscore urgent needs for subsidies and policy reforms to improve access to care.
- Health Minister Akandoh and advocates urge public-private partnerships to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure, citing Agongo’s contributions as a blueprint for national solidarity.
Ghanaian business leader Alhaji Seidu Agongo, CEO of Alive Industries and Agricult Ghana Limited, fulfilled a GH¢500,000 pledge to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund on Thursday, May 22, 2025, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Health.
The donation by Agongo, first promised at the Fund’s launch by President John Dramani Mahama, aims to bolster healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
“As a businessman, my success means nothing in a society where people die from treatable conditions,” Agongo stated during the cheque presentation. He emphasized the interdependence of public health and economic growth, adding, “Businesses only flourish in a healthy environment. Access to healthcare isn’t a luxury—it’s a fundamental right.” The philanthropist, who also operates a dialysis center, highlighted Ghana’s struggle with kidney disease, noting that many patients cannot afford lifesaving treatments.
Healthcare advocates urge systemic reforms
The dire state of renal care underscores broader challenges in Ghana’s healthcare system. According to the Global Payroll Association, a single dialysis session costs GH¢800, with patients typically needing three weekly sessions.
Ghana Business News reports that this totals GH¢8,400 monthly—a crippling expense in a country where the average monthly income hovers around GH¢7,500. Over 4,000 Ghanaians are estimated to require regular dialysis, yet fewer than 15% can afford it, leading to preventable deaths.
Health Minister Mintah Kwabena Akandoh praised Agongo’s contribution as a model for collective action. “This transcends corporate responsibility—it’s about Ghanaians standing for Ghanaians,” he said. “Alhaji Agongo’s compassion reminds us that caring for others isn’t about wealth, but humanity.” The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, established to subsidize emergency treatments and medical equipment, has now received over GH¢2.5 million in donations since its inception.
Agongo’s philanthropy extends beyond this pledge. In 2023, he funded a pediatric emergency ward at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and supported rural clinics with medical supplies. His latest gesture comes amid calls for policy reforms, including tax incentives for health-sector donors and expanded insurance coverage for chronic diseases.
