Mahama proposes cancer treatment centre in Tamale to expand specialist care in the North

John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ministry of Health to begin plans for a cancer treatment centre in Tamale. The President said, "We should start looking at a cancer centre here in Tamale so that we don't have to send patients all the way down south."

The President made the call during a visit to the Tamale Teaching Hospital while inspecting progress on a new cardiothoracic centre at the hospital. He described the cardiothoracic centre as the first of its kind in the Savannah zone. The President explained that the project was partly inspired by the death of a doctor who could not access timely angioplasty services. He said the incident prompted government to procure additional catheterisation labs for major centres, including Tamale, but noted that a full cardiology facility had to be constructed to support the equipment.

The President expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the cardiothoracic centre, indicating that the facility could be completed and operational by next year once equipment installation is finalised. He added that once completed, the Tamale facility is expected to attract patients not only from across northern Ghana but also from neighbouring countries.