Work on the vital Maternity and Children’s Block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has ground to a halt due to outstanding payments owed to the contractor.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health uncovered this during an inspection tour led by its Chairman, Hon. Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane. Briefing lawmakers, Project Manager Mr. Emmanuel Fobi Asabere revealed that physical construction currently sits at 56 per cent, while procurement stands at 75 per cent.
Mr. Asabere noted that two major funding-related suspensions had caused severe delays, inflated costs, and raised questions regarding equipment warranties and material integrity. However, he confirmed that the contractor continues to maintain the site, with key installations like air-conditioning units, electrical fittings, and building façades already procured and awaiting a green light to resume work.
KATH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. (Med) Paa Kwesi Baidoo, stressed that completing the facility is crucial for bolstering specialised maternal and paediatric care for families across the region.
Concurring with this, Hon. Dr. Nawaane called for swift stakeholder intervention to clear the financial bottlenecks.
“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 stated.
“We wish encourage continued engagement among the relevant stakeholders to address the outstanding challenges, particularly those affecting payments and the resumption of construction.”
Serving as a major referral hub for the Ashanti Region and beyond, the completed block is projected to significantly drive down maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
