Prioritise investment in health - Administrator of Ghana Medical Trust Fund tells mining firms
You do not extract value from the soil. You extract value through people.
Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, has urged Ghana’s mining industry to shift its focus towards investing in healthcare systems rather than just infrastructure like roads, schools, and boreholes. Speaking at the National Mining Dialogue 2026 in Accra, she stressed that the true wealth of Ghana lies in its people, not just the resources beneath the ground.
Darko-Opoku warned that when a nation's health declines, all industries, including mining, suffer. She emphasized that a medical emergency does not discriminate based on wealth; for instance, a sudden heart attack cannot be treated in time if there is no nearby healthcare infrastructure. She shared a harrowing example of families spending years saving for their loved one's healthcare, only to face financial ruin when treated abroad due to the lack of necessary equipment locally.
The Administrator revealed concerning statistics from a nationwide assessment by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, highlighting the lack of critical medical equipment in public hospitals, particularly in northern Ghana. Mining companies were challenged to redefine their Corporate Social Responsibility beyond basic amenities and to invest in improving the healthcare systems of their host communities.
She urged companies to consider the lasting impact of their operations, such as building cancer centers and cardiac labs that contribute to the well-being of the community long after mining ceases. Darko-Opoku concluded by reminding the mining sector that the true value of their work lies not in the gold extracted but in the lives saved and the healthier communities they help build.
Written by urgent.news from 3News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
