Mahama Promises Improved Healthcare in Zongo Communities

With barely some two months to the 2024 general elections, former President John Dramani Mahama, who is the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, has underscored his commitment to ensuring improved healthcare for Zongo communities when given the mandate. Addressing attendees at the Ghana National Muslims Conference on October 27, Mahama emphasized a raft of proposals for improving the healthcare needs of the predominantly Muslim-dominated communities, particularly culturally sensitive services.

His vision for health is to include specialized facilities by Islamic etiquette that would handle the bodies of the dead Muslims according to Islamic burial standards. He reiterated that this was a promise in addition to his earlier 2020 pledge toward addressing the peculiar needs of Zongo communities, which in his view should have the country's national development agenda take into consideration cultural and religious diversity.

Other than the provision of modern mortuary facilities, Mahama promised the provision of improved medical facilities at the local health centers in Zongo. His proposed improvements will cover the upgrade of the infrastructure in health centers toward ensuring the effective delivery of quality health services to the residents of Zongo. It is this highly disproportionate health gap, in terms of accessibility and quality, that Mahama seeks to bridge with better investment in health.

Mahama also proposes the addressing of health concerns that emanate from food safety and compliance with halal. His government will partner with the private sector in the construction of new abattoirs and rehabilitation of existing ones, such as the Tulaku Abattoir, to meet WHO standards and ensure that their products are halal. This move will address health concerns and simultaneously contribute to increased food security levels for the greater Muslim community in Ghana.

Such a vision by Mahama for improving healthcare in the Zongo community reflects a broader commitment toward ensuring an inclusive healthcare system respectful of religious diversity, which may alter healthcare access for many should he return to the office.