Concerned with the sluggish progress of various hospital projects around the nation, especially in the Ashanti Region, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for quick action to finish such projects.
Even if “we won’t have the money to do it all at once, we must try hard and do our best to ensure that people’s health is prioritised,” he stated.
“I have observed that the financial sector is doing better. Going forward, please work with the Finance Ministry to secure funding to finish the remaining projects nationwide and ensure that the Agenda 111 projects are finished on time,” the King directed.
As part of his working visit to the Ashanti region, Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when a group from the Ministry of Health, lead by the sector Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, paid him a visit at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
“Having seen Sewua Hospital, I don’t see why you shouldn’t finish your work. While some employees at the location attribute the delays on the road system, the government has invested significant funds to establish medical equipment at the facility.
The Asantehene lamented, “When I investigated why it is still not operational, the reasons were due to poor road network and lack of power; if this is not fixed on time, the installed equipment will go to waste with time.”
According to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) could have sent some of its patients to hospitals like the one in Sewua if they were open in order to support the seamless execution of the “Heal the KATH” project.
He stated that one such project that has delayed was the KNUST Teaching Hospital and urged the Health Minister to expedite its completion so that it could be put to use.
He stated that even if the hospitals in Fomena and Kumawu were already open, the ongoing construction at Trede should also be given priority.
In response, Dr. Okoe-Boye praised the Asantehene for starting the “Heal KATH” project to guarantee the provision of cutting-edge healthcare.
He declared that every effort was being made by the government to finish all ongoing health programmes in the area.
Later, the Minister went to the KATH and looked over the site where the KATH Maternity and Children’s block is currently being built.
He proposed that the Ghana Health Service sign a memorandum of understanding with the Teaching Hospital, which could spell out some modalities by way of directing some exceptional care services to facilities like Sewua hospital to be able to further ease the pressure on KATH.
He stressed the need for prompt actions to operationalize the Afari Military and Sewua hospitals in order to be able to decongest KATH.