Best Livestock Farmer Donates Towards Heal KATH
The owner and Managing Director of Wireko Asubonteng Farms, Mr Augustine Asubonteng has donated GHC50,000 towards the rehabilitation of the Old Gee Block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi in the Asante Region.
He was accompanied by his elder brother, Mr Eric Asubonteng who is the Senior Vice President for AngloGold Ashanti Africa Non-operated JVs, his farm manager and other workers.
He presented a dummy cheque of GHC50,000 to Otumfuo Hiahene, Nana Prof Oheneba Boachie-Adjei during the Awukudae festival on March 13, 2024, at the Manhyia Palace.
Earlier in the day, his brother donated GHC100,000 directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Prof Otchere Addai Mensah and the HEAL KATH Committee members at the health facility.
About Heal KATH
The project dubbed Heal KATH is aimed at mobilising US$10 million to address the urgent need for infrastructural improvements in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital, which receives referrals from 12 out of the 16 regions of Ghana, through the solicitation of funds.
Hailing Otumfuo for spearheading the project during its launch on November 10, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH, Prof Otchere Addai-Mensah, said the renovation had been on the drawing board of the hospital Board for the last 50 years but had to be shelved due to lack of funds.
He highlighted that persistent over-utilisation and consequent wear and tear over the years have made the structure unfit for the provision of contemporary healthcare services.
“Plumbing, electrical wires, windows, roofing, washrooms and all ancillary facilities have for years now deteriorated beyond maintenance,” he listed as he explained the structure has never tasted renovation since its existence.
Speaking at the event, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II characterized the current state of the hospital as embarrassing and stressed the urgent need to raise funds to attend to the building which is close to 70 years old.
“12 of 16 regions have their patients referred here. Patients get drenched when it rains and the exposed wires can cause fire outbreaks when rainwater comes into contact with the wires. Even the new Emergency Ward is in dire need of renovation. We will be brought to this hospital when the need arises and so there is a need to work it out.”
According to him, the project cannot wait for any government since many governments reigned and ended their tenure without any particular attention to the hospital.
“Governments come and go but the building remains and it is up to us to renovate it. It shouldn’t therefore be politicised….Though the amount is huge, if each household on this land decided to contribute each month, we would go a long way to heal the hospital.”
