Speaking at the first Akwasidae celebration of the year at the Manhyia Palace on Sunday, January 19, President Mahama outlined plans to address the challenges hindering the 250-bed hospital’s operations.

He highlighted the hospital’s crucial role in easing the patient burden on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the region’s largest healthcare facility, which is operating beyond its capacity and requires significant renovations.

“The Sewua Hospital is not operational because there is no electricity, there is no water, and the road to the hospital has not been constructed. I wish to assure you that we will tackle it immediately and make sure that we can open the doors of that hospital so that it will ease the pressure on Komfo Anokye,” Mahama stated.

He explained that transferring patients to Sewua would allow for necessary renovations at KATH without disrupting its services.

The Sewua Hospital has been mired in controversy after its premature commissioning by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, despite warnings from the contractor, Euroget De-Invest S.A., that critical components were incomplete.

The move drew public criticism and raised concerns about the delivery of operational healthcare infrastructure.

READ ALSO:

• NDC communication officers congratulate Edudzi Tameklo on appointment as NPA boss
• Mahama’s private jet use didn’t cost taxpayers a dime – Felix Kwakye Ofosu
• ORAL concept not new; what is new is the noise about its illegality – Kwaku Asare

Prominent among the facilities visited is the Sewua Regional Hospital which is 90 percent complete but left unattended with deplorable roads impeding its usage.

The Asantehene inspected the pace of work at the project sites, while advocating for their early completion. 

 The three project includes the ongoing renovation works he is spearheading at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the stalled Sewua Regional Hospital and the Mother and Baby Unit at the Manhyia Hospital. 

The comprehensive renovation and modernisation of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital have reached a 60 percent completion rate. 

Otumfuo has been leading the ‘Heal KATH Project’ through a 10million dollar public fundraising exercise to renovate the traditional wards of the hospital.

“The hospital is not going to leak again when it rains. One of the problems of Komfo Anokye was that when it rains, it could leak for two weeks we are privileged that since it rained the roof hasn’t been leaking. The King is very pleased,” Samuel Adu Boakye, Chairman – Heal KATH project, said. 

The Asantehene later inspected the Sewua Hospital project which is to serve as a regional hospital.

The facility, already 90% complete, is left unattended with deplorable roads impeding its usage. 

“The hospital has been completed for the past one year. What we need is to connect electricity to the hospital to get it operational, and we must put the road in good shape,” Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang, Ashanti Regional Health Director, indicated. 

Dr. Agyarko Poku, who spoke on behalf of the Asantehene, says the visit is to advocate for the completion of the projects. 

“It is part of his activity to occasionally go around to see the developmental activities going on. The Sewuah hospital is very significant so he must come and see to put up his advocacy,” he indicated. 

The Asantehene ended his inspection at the construction of the Baby and Mother Unit at the Manhyia Hospital. 

This is the Ashanti Regional Hospital, located at Sewua in the Bosomtwe District.

Physical works on the 250-bed capacity hospital have been completed awaiting the provision of power supply and improved access road network to the facility.

When commissioned, this will be the third biggest health facility in the region, next to the Komfo Anokye Hospital and the yet-to-be-completed 500-bed Military Hospital at Afari.

This modern health facility is fully equipped with among other facilities, gynaecology wards, an intensive-care unit, operation rooms, delivery suites, a sterilisation department and medical gas plant for the production of medical gases.

The facility, which is left with testing of equipment and commissioning, is expected to ease pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana’s second-largest referral facility when it becomes operational.

This is part of eight hospital projects, code-named, ‘Ghana 8 No Hospital Project’ funded with $339million under the construction of Euroget De Invest.

“The arrangement to bring in a contractor to do eight hospitals including this one started from President Kufuor’s time”. That is according to Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu.

The hospital has the capacity to produce medical gases. It also has two power stations.

Barring any hitches, contractors working on the Ashanti Regional Hospital will hand over the facility to the government for use.

The Sewua Hospital is bounded by the Infectious Disease Treatment Center, one of 12 facilities built with Covid-19 funding across the country to manage infectious diseases.