INSET: From left: Francis Dodovi, Dr Joseph Akpaloo, Dr Agyemang- Mensah and Samuel Sarpong during the inspection tour of the maternity ward at KATH
A whopping $70 million is required to complete the maternity ward complex of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi currently under construction.
The 1000-bed facility, which started four decades ago, is now 70 percent complete, and the provision of the huge amount is critically needed to ensure its final completion and usage by the people.
Nana Boamah, consultant for the project, made these known when Health Minister, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, inspected the extent of work done on the facility so far on Monday.
Dr Agyemang-Mensah stated emphatically that the edifice would be completed by 2016 to solve the perennial congestion problem at KATH in order to help boost healthcare provision at the medical facility.
The KATH maternity ward project, he said, is dear to the heart of President Mahama and the NDC administration, insisting his promise for the project’s completion in 2016 is not a mere political talk.
The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) had approved a proposal sent to it by the health ministry for money to be released to work on the facility, adding that the undisclosed amount now requires the approval of the cabinet and parliament.
He admonished the main contractor for the project, Cymain, and other sub contractors working on the project to prepare adequately in anticipation of moving to site anytime soon to work on the project.
Dr Agyemang-Mensah described healthcare as a crucial issue which should never be linked with politics, stressing that the government’s desire to complete the project next year is only aimed at boosting healthcare for the people.
The health minister was accompanied at the project site by Ashanti Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong, KATH CEO, Dr Joseph Akpaloo and other management members of the hospital.
He assured that his ministry would intervene to help replace the faulty elevators at the old GEE block of KATH, stressing that the move also formed part of efforts by his ministry to improve facilities at KATH.
Dr Agyemang-Mensah, who is on a four-day working tour of the region, would visit Tepa and Bekwai to inspect hospitals being constructed there before cutting the sod for work to commence on a district hospital at Kumawu.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
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