Asantehene Inspects Progress of KATH Renovation
Architect Kojo Darko Asante, one of the workers in charge of giving a facelift to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) guided Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II through the progress of work on the facility during an inspection on Thursday.
The rehabilitation works began only a few weeks ago with the repairs of the leaking roofing of the old Gee Block completed.
His Majesty upon a visit to the hospital on February 29, 2024, was acquainted with the pace and technicalities of the ongoing work for the interior renovation.
Architect Darko Asante along with officials of the hospital led Otumfuo to the fourth floor of Block A where work was steadily in progress and informed him that the repair works on the entire roof of Block A, B, C and D were 100% complete. He also explained how the ceilings of the wards will be replaced, along with the tiled floor.
A video documentary of the finished roof re-made in white was shown and explained to the King.
From there, Otumfuo inspected one of the makeshift wards put in place to accommodate patients from the Blocks where the renovation had begun.
The Ashanti Regional Health Director for Health, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang in an interview with opemsuo.com said patients in the wards would be vacated to temporary structures to make way for the renovation.
“There are some wards we are going to vacate. The plan is that we will use the peripheral facilities to support so that in case of emergency, we transfer some of our patients to our peripheral hospitals.”
Speaking to the press after the tour, the Chairman of the Heal KATH Project Commission- a project to mobilise US$10 from the public for the work- Sammy Adu Boakye said the hospital no longer floods from leakages of rainwater after downpours following the completion of the roofing repairs.
“It is no longer going to leak when it rains. The major problem of Komfo Anokye was that if it rained today for two weeks, some of the wards would be leaking. We are privileged to say that the last rains that we experienced, not one leakage was experienced.”
On the interior rehab, he stated that they would start as soon as imported material arrived in the country.
“The hospital is still in session so what is happening is that we are doing it in phases. Currently, the A4 A5 demolition has happened. The things (materials) have almost arrived so as they arrive, we will be fixing with the materials we have imported.”
The inspection of the renovation work was part of Otumfuo’s tour of three medical facilities in the Ashanti Region for inspection on Thursday.
He was accompanied by traditional authorities including Otumfuo Saamanhene Nana Osei Kwaku II, Otumfuo Hiahene Prof. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Baffour Kantantankrakyi and Mamsehene Barima Osei Kwadwo II.
Also present were the Ashanti Regional Health Director for Health, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang and CEO of KATH, Prof Otchere Addai-Mensah.
HEAL KATH
The renovation of the dilapidated old Gee block is being facilitated with a US$10 million fundraising project. The mobilization of funds is spearheaded by Otumfuo.
It was launched by Otumfuo on Friday, November 10, 2023.
