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Asantehene’s 10 million dollar renovation of KATH commences shortly

Nazir Hamzah August 25, 2023

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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II has declared his readiness to raise Ten Million United States Dollars (10,000,000 USD) towards the comprehensive renovation of the 70-year-old in-patient wards at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

He said the ageing blocks which house the main wards of the hospital have never been renovated since their construction in 1955 and thus adversely impacting the quality of in-patient care at the hospital, hence his decision to undertake the much needed refurbishment.

Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II stated this when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, led the executives and members of the “Heal Komfo Anokye Project” team to present to the Asantehene the technical and financial proposal developed to guide the comprehensive renovation of the dilapidate blocks which he commissioned them to do.

The team is a like-minded volunteer group of an architect, real estate developers, marketers and brands communication experts among others. The renovation project is expected to be executed as part of the legacy projects marking the 25th Anniversary celebration of the enstoolment of the Asantehene next year.

Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II described KATH as a strategic institution that occupies a unique position in the health care delivery system of the country as well as the social, cultural, and historical heritage of the Asante kingdom.

“For a hospital that has been the sole provider of tertiary health care in this region and beyond for decades and also named after the founding Chief Priest of the Asanteman, it will be unacceptable to allow it to fall into a state of disrepair, hence my readiness to lead the crusade for its restoration”, the King explained.

Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II mentioned plans to formally launch a fund-raising campaign to ensure the mobilization of the needed resources to renovate and modernize the old blocks so that they can serve patients from the region and the 11 others that the hospital receives even better.

He commended the CEO and members of the “Heal Komfo Anokye Project” team for their commitment to the project and urged the public and corporate institutions to support the fund-raising drive when it is launched to ensure the successful execution of the project.

The Asantehene nominated Nana Prof. Oheneba Boachie -Adjei Woahene II , Hiahene and Founder of the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) who also doubles as Board chairman for Otumfuo charity foundation as his direct representation for the project.

Prof. Addai-Mensah pointed out that when he assumed office in December of last year, he was shocked by the extent of deterioration that the blocks have undergone after close to 70 years of intensive use without any comprehensive renovation.

According to him, even though routine repairs have been done over the years, they are woefully inadequate to address the enormous wear and tear that the blocks have undergone over the past seven decades and thus was overjoyed when The Asantehene mentioned his plans to give the hospital the much-needed facelift.

Mr. Samuel Adu-Boakye, Chairman of the “Heal Komfo Anokye Project” team was grateful to the Asantehene for leading the execution of the project. He added that the team has developed a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy to facilitate the raising of the needed funds from well-meaning members of the public and corporate Ghana. “If we can get just One million Ghanaians to donate 10 United States Dollars each, $10m can be raised in no time to ensure the timely execution of this project for the benefit of the entire people of Ghana given the wide catchment area of the hospital” he appealed.

SEE PHOTOS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS OF THE WARDS BELOW: