Kumasi Residents Urge Swift Government Action to Revive Stalled 500-Bed Maternity Project at KATH
The severe overcrowding at the Emergency Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has once more spotlighted the long-delayed 500-bed Maternity and Children’s Block, prompting residents and local stakeholders to call for immediate government support to finish the project.
As Ghana’s leading referral facility for the Ashanti Region and roughly 12 other regions, KATH is facing mounting strain on its existing facilities as patient numbers continue to climb steadily.The Emergency Unit is particularly overwhelmed, with patients frequently struggling to find available beds and medical staff working under intense pressure to cope with the growing caseload.
Local residents in Kumasi and throughout the Ashanti Region are convinced that finishing the new 500-bed facility would substantially ease congestion at the hospital and greatly enhance healthcare services, especially for mothers and children.
The project was launched to strengthen healthcare capacity and boost specialized care for maternal and pediatric patients at KATH. However, progress has ground to a halt in recent months after the contractor, CONTRACTA UK Limited, suspended operations and laid off workers due to a lack of funding.
This setback has alarmed many in the community, who warn that the prolonged delay is aggravating the hospital’s capacity problems at a time when the demand for reliable healthcare is rising rapidly.
Residents emphasize that completing the block would help relieve pressure on the emergency ward, deliver better treatment outcomes for patients, provide improved working conditions for doctors and nurses, and overall strengthen regional healthcare services.
They are now appealing directly to the government to fast-track the release of necessary funds so that CONTRACTA UK Limited can mobilize and return to the site to resume construction.
With Ghana’s population expanding and healthcare demands increasing, locals insist that finishing the 500-bed Maternity and Children’s Block is an essential priority that cannot be postponed any longer.
