President John Dramani Mahama’s charitable initiative MahamaCares has completed and handed over state-of-the-art cardiology centres at three of Ghana’s foremost teaching hospitals, in a major boost for heart health services across the country.
The new facilities are now operational at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region. The centres aim to expand access to advanced cardiovascular care, reduce treatment backlogs and strengthen specialist capacity outside of private clinics.
Cardiovascular disease has become a leading cause of morbidity in Ghana, with heart attacks, hypertension and other conditions placing heavy demand on limited specialised services. Prior to these developments, patients often faced long waits, travel burdens and high out-of-pocket costs to access comprehensive cardiac diagnostics and treatment.
Each cardiology centre is equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment tools, including digital electrocardiography machines, echocardiography systems, treadmill stress test platforms and patient monitoring technology. The facilities also include space for outpatient consultations, cardiac rehabilitation services and patient education areas.
In a statement accompanying the openings, MahamaCares said the centres were designed to decentralise high-quality cardiac care so that patients in southern, central and northern Ghana could receive care closer to home. Health professionals at the teaching hospitals have been trained to operate the new equipment and manage complex cardiovascular cases, reflecting a sustained commitment to clinical excellence rather than one-off equipment donations.
Officials from the hospitals welcomed the new centres, noting that they represent a step change in the capacity to diagnose, monitor and treat heart disease. At Korle Bu, where tertiary referrals come from across the south, the centre will serve thousands of patients annually and reduce the pressure on existing cardiac wards. Komfo Anokye’s facility is expected to be a major referral hub for the middle belt of the country, while the new centre at Tamale Teaching Hospital will significantly improve access for northern and savanna populations.
Doctors who have begun work in the facilities emphasised the importance of ongoing training and maintenance to ensure sustainability. Cardiologists and technicians said the new centres will allow early detection of conditions such as arrhythmias, valve disease and heart failure, conditions that often go unnoticed until they become life-threatening.
MahamaCares, which has undertaken several health and education initiatives, said the projects were funded through donor contributions, partnerships with private sector supporters and Ghanaian institutions committed to improving health outcomes. The organisation highlighted that the centres complement broader national efforts to strengthen the health system, particularly in specialised care.
For patients and families, the new cardiology units represent not just improved access but potential lives saved. Heart disease remains a growing public health challenge in Ghana, as in many middle-income countries, where lifestyle changes and ageing populations contribute to rising incidence. By expanding specialist capacity and promoting early intervention, the centres are expected to ease long-term treatment costs for families and reduce avoidable mortality.
Healthcare advocates say the project sets a benchmark for public-private collaboration in Ghana’s health sector, demonstrating how well-structured philanthropy can align with national health priorities. They also call for continued investment in related areas such as stroke care, preventive screening at district hospitals and community health worker training to maximise the impact of the new cardiology units.
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