By: Belinda Nketia
“Let us be the reason someone gets a second chance at life.” These words from the National Blood Service (NBS) set the tone for the official launch of the 2025 Nationwide Blood Donation Campaign by Melcom Ghana at its Head Office in Accra on Tuedsay, July 21, 2025.
The blood donation campaign is a joint initiative between the Melcom Care Foundation and the National Blood Service. It seeks to boost the national blood supply through voluntary donations at Melcom branches across the country.
This year marks over a decade of collaboration between Melcom and the NBS.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Chief Blood Donor and Recruitment Officer, Sophia Blankson, commended Melcom for its commitment over the years..
“Melcom has opened not just its doors, but its heart,” she said. “Their consistent support has helped save lives across the country.”
Since the start of the initiative, blood donations have steadily increased:
2013 – 434 units
2014 – 639 units
2015 – 824 units
2016 – 1,542 units
2021 – 1,620 units
2023 – 2,184 units
The 2025 campaign is expected to break previous records.
The Head of Blood Donation Recruitment at the NBS, David Dodzi Ahiadzro, underscored the urgency of voluntary donation. “As a country, we need at least 300,000 units of blood annually to meet demand. That’s just 1% of our population donating,” he said.
He said “fear of donation” is a major barrier to the blood donation campaing. He assured the public that the process is “safe” and handled by “trained professionals.”
“The interval is just four months. You can donate up to three times a year. Blood donation is a civic responsibility,” Mr. Dodzi Ahiadzro said. He appealed to individuals between the ages of 17 and 60 to donate blood and help save lives.
How to Get Involved
The 2025 blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, 24th and Saturday, 26th July, 2025 at all Melcom branches nationwide. Donors can visit designated outlets or get more information by contacting: 0245199298 or 0244638928.
As the campaign rolls out, the National Blood Service and Melcom are appealing to communities across Ghana to support the drive, which directly impacts the survival of accident victims, surgical patients, mothers in labour, and children with anemia.
