Former Chamber of Mines President Donates To Heal KATH

Mr Eric Asubonteng, a former President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has subscribed to the Heal KATH Project, an initiative championed by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to give a facelift to the almost 70-year-old Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The incumbent Senior Vice President for AngloGold Ashanti Africa Non-operated JVs in his individual capacity, gave GHC100,000 to the hospital on March 13, 2024.

He was accompanied by his younger brother, Mr Augustine Asubonteng, the 2023 Best Livestock Farmer.

The official presentation of a dummy cheque was made to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Prof Otchere Addai Mensah in the presence of other HEAL KATH Committee members.

In his presentation, Mr Asubonteng called the initiative a noble cause.

“We came to support the initiative of Otumfuo which is aimed at giving a facelift to the KATH. We decided to give our quota because it is a good cause the King is championing. We are here to give the little we have to support the noble initiative.”

Prof Addai Mensah expressed gratitude to the siblings for their support.

“On behalf of the Board, Management, the team and patients, I want to say a very big thank you to you.”

In his address, he lamented about the dilapidated state of the hospital when he took over as the head and extolled Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for championing the cause.

“The hospital hasn’t witnessed any major rehabilitation since its construction. Otumfuo has tasked us with the responsibility of devising the technical and financial proposal for the renovation of the four-blocked facility.”

He noted that the state of the hospital, if not given the needed attention, might cost the facility its operational accreditation.

“If we don’t do this now, in a few years, we might be deprived an accreditation to practice as a hospital. This is why we all welcomed the King’s decision to champion the renovation.”

Though a lot of people have come on board to donate towards the project, he indicated that more is needed to achieve the targeted US$10 million for the renovation of the entire old Gee block.

“We are looking forward to mobilizing US$10 million. It is a huge amount but if we get about one million people of the entire Ghana population supporting with US$100, we will be able to reach our target.”

He emphasized the need for persons across the country to lend a helping hand to the hospital as he noted the facility receives referrals from 10 out of the 16 regions in Ghana.

“This is not restricted to people living in Kumasi but all those far and near because the hospital receives referrals from 10 out of the 16 regions in Ghana. Six out of every 10 ambulances that convey emergencies come to KATH. Such has been the pressure on us as a hospital. It is therefore imperative that we undertake this project.”

In an update, he said repair works on the roof of Blocks A, B, C and D have been completed with the interior renovation underway.