KATH and PACE of LIFE UK Team Pay Homage to Asantehene at Awukudae Festival
A delegation from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), accompanied by their partners from PACE of LIFE-UK, called on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace during the 8th Awukudae Festival of the year on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
The team visited the Palace to introduce themselves to the Asantehene and to share updates on their ongoing medical outreach, which provides free pacemaker implantation procedures for patients with heart rhythm disorders.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Kwadwo Sarbeng, Medical Director of KATH, noted that the hospital has been collaborating with PACE of LIFE for the past decade to provide lifesaving cardiac care and build local medical capacity.
He explained that a pacemaker is a small device implanted in the heart to help regulate heartbeat, adding that the visiting team not only performs the procedures but also trains Ghanaian doctors in the process.
“There is something you put in the heart to make it beat, called a pacemaker. They do it for us and also teach our doctors how to do it, and this year too, they have come.”
A heart specialist at KATH, Dr. Nana Yaw Boahen, further disclosed that the initiative significantly reduces the financial burden on patients. He explained that pacemaker procedures typically cost between ₵2 billion and ₵3 billion, but under the partnership, all services and devices are provided free of charge.
“We have been doing this for a long time. If you were to pay for the procedure, it would cost around 2 to 3 billion cedis. But when the PACE of LIFE team comes, they bring all their equipment, and everything is done free of charge. Patients don’t pay anything. They’ve been here for three days, and we’ve already done almost 20 cases, with more patients still waiting.”
He added that the current team has been in Kumasi for three days and has already performed nearly 20 successful procedures, with more patients awaiting treatment.
The KATH and PACE of LIFE delegation later took turns to greet the Asantehene and seek his blessings for their ongoing humanitarian work.
Also joining the festival to pay homage were St. Louis College of Education, Komfo Anokye Nursing and Midwifery Training College, the Bright and Pure Holiness Ministry, and business entities including the Asanteman Cold Store Association, Mantrack Company, KASSAB Trading and Restaurant, and Westec Security Ghana Ltd.
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Global Health Programme (MCGHP) also participated, alongside the Asanteman Europe Association.
Story by Adwoa S. Danso
