Work on the Maternity and Children’s Block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has been suspended due to outstanding payments to the contractor, raising fresh concerns about delays in completing the critical healthcare facility.
The development came to light when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, led by its Chairman, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, inspected the project to assess progress and engage stakeholders on measures to facilitate its completion.
Briefing the committee, Project Manager Emmanuel Fobi Asabere disclosed that procurement for the project had reached 75%, while physical construction stood at 56% before work was suspended.
He explained that the project had suffered two major suspensions, largely because of unpaid claims submitted by the contractor. The interruptions have contributed to delays and additional costs, while also raising concerns about the validity of warranties and the condition of some materials procured for the facility.
Despite the suspension, Mr. Asabere said the contractor had continued to maintain the project site during the periods when work was halted.
He added that several essential materials, including air-conditioning equipment, electrical components and building façades, had already been procured and were being stored pending the resumption of construction.
According to the project manager, the contractor is awaiting the necessary payments and further engagements with relevant stakeholders before returning to the site to continue work.
The suspension poses a setback to efforts to expand specialised maternal and paediatric healthcare services at KATH, one of the major referral hospitals serving the Ashanti Region and other parts of the country.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, said the facility is known for improving healthcare delivery, particularly for mothers, children and families who depend on the hospital for specialised medical services.
He said the project represented a significant investment in the future of healthcare at KATH and stressed the need for stakeholders to work together to resolve the outstanding issues and enable construction to resume.
Dr. Nawaane also described the Maternity and Children’s Block as an important healthcare infrastructure project whose completion would strengthen the hospital’s capacity to provide maternal and child healthcare services.
“The Committee recognise the importance of this facility to the hospital and the many patients who depend on its services. From the update provided, it is clear that substantial work has gone into the project, including the procurement of essential materials,” he said.
He urged the relevant stakeholders to sustain their engagement and address the challenges affecting the project, particularly those relating to outstanding payments and the return of the contractor to the site.
When completed and operational, the Maternity and Children’s Block is expected to expand KATH’s capacity to deliver specialised care for mothers and children and contribute to efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
However, with construction currently suspended, the project’s progress will depend on resolving the payment issues and enabling work to resume.
