Market Women In Kumasi Help In “Healing” KATH
Traders from six markets in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, have joined forces to support the renovation of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), a vital referral health facility that has not undergone comprehensive renovation since its construction 70 years ago.
The two groups of traders were led by their market queens on April 4, 2024, to the hospital to make a cumulative donation of GHc220,000 after which they made a formal presentation a dummy cheque before the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who is spearheading the advocacy for the fund mobilisation.
Speaking to opemsuo.com on the sidelines of their visit to the Manhyia Palace, the Vice Chairman of Market Queens at Abinkyi, Kejetia and Central Market, Nana Wiafe said an amount of ¢100,000 was mobilised from traders at Kejetia Market, Central Market and Abinkyi Market while traders at the Bantama, Race Course and Suame markets gave a total of ¢120,000.
Underscoring the significance of their contribution to the project, he said, “A few months ago, our lord the King began a campaign to raise funds to renovate the dilapidated Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. We remember His Majesty’s statement that the hospital which was meant to heal people is sick itself. We had to help in that regard since we make a living because of the King and the Queen. We amassed the support of all traders here.”
Expressing appreciation to all who contributed to their donation, Madam Ama Sarkina, the Queen mother of herring sellers at one of the markets urged all hands to come on deck for the project.
“We urge all who are yet to contribute to do so. Komfo Anokye is for all of us and so if we leave it to rot, it will go against us. Drivers, residents and all are entreated to help so we can get the quality health care we need.”
The group included traders from Kejetia, Central, Abinkyi, Bantama, Suame and Race Course markets.
The project dubbed Heal KATH is aimed at mobilising US$10 million to address the urgent need for infrastructural improvements at KATH, Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital, which receives referrals from 12 out of the 16 regions of Ghana, through the solicitation of funds.
The project was launched by Otumfuo on November 10, 2023.
Source: opemsuo.com /Hajara Fuseini
