President Mahama commissions state-of-the-art PET CT scan facility at SGMC
President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned a state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET CT) scan facility at the Sweden-Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC) in Accra, describing it as a major milestone in Ghana’s healthcare transformation agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama said the facility represents a new chapter in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system, anchored on innovation, accessibility and advanced medical diagnostics.
“This event is not merely the unveiling of a machine. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana’s healthcare journey,” he stated.
According to the President, the PET CT technology will significantly improve the early detection, diagnosis and monitoring of diseases, particularly cancers, while reducing the need for Ghanaians to travel abroad for specialized medical care.
He explained that unlike conventional imaging systems, PET scans provide insights into how diseases function at the cellular and metabolic levels, enabling doctors to determine the severity and progression of conditions as well as the effectiveness of treatment interventions.
“While other technologies may show where a problem exists, PET scans help determine how aggressively the condition is progressing and whether treatment interventions are working,” he said.
President Mahama noted that the facility would position Ghana as a regional hub for advanced medical diagnostics and specialist healthcare services, attracting patients from neighboring countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
“For far too long, many Ghanaians requiring advanced diagnostic services had to travel abroad at enormous financial and emotional cost. Today, we make a bold national statement that world-class diagnostic services are available here in Ghana,” he added.
The President also announced that the SGMC facility would be registered under the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Care, allowing cancer patients receiving treatment at the center to benefit from financial support under the scheme.
“This facility will be recognized as one of the oncology centers under Mahama Care, and cancer patients who come here for treatment will be covered under the fund,” he disclosed.
President Mahama used the occasion to commend the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) for its role in expanding the SGMC and investing in healthcare infrastructure.
He praised GNAT for extending its contribution beyond labor advocacy into critical national development sectors including healthcare, housing, finance and insurance.
“GNAT has demonstrated that its commitment to teachers extends beyond advocacy and labor concerns to include health, dignity and well-being,” he said.
The President further highlighted ongoing government investments in the health sector, including the construction of new regional hospitals, the procurement of catheterization laboratories for major teaching hospitals, and the establishment of new cardiothoracic and cardio centers across the country.
