Seidu Agongo fulfills GHS500,000 pledge to Ghana Medical Trust Fund

In Ghana, the monthly minimum wage is about GHS450. Many people face medical bills of GHS8,400 each month for kidney treatment. This situation affects thousands suffering from kidney failure. It’s a silent epidemic that leads to financial ruin and loss of life.

Last week in Accra, businessman Alhaji Seidu Agongo made a significant donation. He presented a check for GHS500,000 to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund. This was on behalf of Alive Industries. The donation fulfilled a pledge he made during the fund's launch by President John Dramani Mahama.

“I see their faces every day,” Agongo said emotionally. “Mothers sell everything for one more treatment.” He described fathers choosing between feeding their children or staying alive. “These are impossible choices no Ghanaian should face,” he added.

As the owner of a dialysis center, Agongo understands the impact of kidney disease in Ghana. Each dialysis session costs around GHS800. Most patients need three sessions weekly, totaling about GHS8,400 monthly—roughly $800 in a country where average income is $750.

“Many working-class people earn less than that,” he noted. “In a developing country where food is scarce, this is a huge burden.” He highlighted that this cost is nearly 20 times the minimum wage.

Agongo’s donation will support the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as "Mahama Cares." This initiative helps vulnerable groups like the poor and elderly. Health Minister Mintah Kwabena Akandoh praised Agongo's generosity during the ceremony.

“This goes beyond corporate responsibility,” he stated. “It’s about Ghanaians helping each other.” Agongo emphasized that public health is vital for national prosperity.

“My success means nothing if people die from treatable conditions,” he said. “We all need access to healthcare as a fundamental right.”

He challenged fellow Ghanaians to support one another and improve lives together. “This isn’t about wealth; it’s about compassion,” he explained.

Agongo has donated to many across the country and built facilities at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital's Child Emergency Unit.