The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has inspected the ongoing construction of a specialised cardiology centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, with the project manager reporting 70 per cent completion and expressing confidence that the facility will be ready by December 31, 2026.
The visit formed part of the committee’s preliminary oversight responsibilities to assess progress on the project, which is being undertaken by ADB Ghana Medical Systems Group under the supervision of the Ministry of Health.
The committee was led by its chairman, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, who, after the inspection, called on Ghanaian contractors to demonstrate commitment, professionalism and accountability in executing public infrastructure projects.
Dr. Nawaane said the government was committed to ensuring that contractors received payment for work undertaken under approved contractual arrangements, urging local contractors to contribute meaningfully to national development.
He described the project as one of the government’s legacy initiatives and stressed the need to complete it alongside other priority projects, including a similar development in Dambai.
The committee chairman noted that other projects, including facilities in Koforidua and at the Accra Regional Hospital, as well as a library project in Accra, had already been put into use.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress observed at the cardiology centre, noting that construction and finishing activities, including plastering and equipment installation, were ongoing.
The inspection team also examined various sections of the facility, including rooms and sanitary areas, to assess their suitability and adequacy for the intended services.
“Nobody can develop our country more than we, the Ghanaians,” Dr. Nawaane said, urging local contractors to invest in their work, maintain high construction standards and honour their contractual obligations.
He also called on stakeholders responsible for supervising the project to maintain effective oversight to ensure that the facility was completed to the required standards and remained fit for purpose after commissioning.
Project manager confident of December deadline
Project Manager and Liaison Consultant Abraham Fisher said the project had reached approximately 70 per cent completion, with the remaining works expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He disclosed that all equipment required for the project had arrived in Ghana, except for the lifts, which were yet to be delivered.
“As at now, we are around 70% progress of completion. We are hoping to complete the rest of the work by end of the year as we sit here today,” Fisher said.
He explained that the equipment procured for the facility was being kept in a warehouse and would be moved to the site for installation once the finishing works were ready.
“All equipment for this project is in country. The only thing for this project that is not in the country now is the lifts. Apart from the lift, everything is in our warehouse,” he said.
Fisher expressed confidence that the project would be completed and ready for use by December 31, 2026.
KATH management outlines expansion plans
The Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Paa Kwasi Baidoo, reaffirmed management’s commitment to working with the consultant and contractor to ensure that the project was completed within the stated timeframe.
He described the cardiology centre as a significant development for the hospital, given its strategic location and the specialised medical services it provides to patients from across Ghana and beyond.
Dr. Baidoo said the project was particularly important as the hospital prepared for its 70th anniversary celebrations.
He expressed gratitude to the President for selecting the hospital to benefit from the development and said management was committed to expanding the facility’s infrastructure and specialist healthcare services.
According to him, the hospital had secured several acres of land to accommodate future projects after earlier challenges involving land availability.
Among the planned developments is an ultra-modern oncology centre intended to provide specialised cancer treatment services.
Dr. Baidoo said preparatory work, including land development, was expected to begin in the coming months, with the oncology centre targeted for completion within two years.
The hospital is also planning to establish a renal centre to strengthen kidney care services, alongside other infrastructure developments expected over the next two to three years.
He called on stakeholders and the public to continue supporting the hospital’s development agenda, emphasising the importance of improving access to specialised healthcare.
The cardiology centre is expected to strengthen KATH’s capacity to provide specialised heart care when completed. However, the project team has indicated that the remaining construction, finishing works and installation of equipment must be completed before the facility can be handed over for use.
The December 31, 2026, deadline will therefore be a key milestone for the hospital, the contractor and the Ministry of Health as they work towards delivering the project.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
