President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has officially commissioned Phase III of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, a critical project aimed at providing an ultra-modern secondary referral hospital for the Upper East Region of Ghana.
The project which is a significant milestone in the government’s broader effort to enhance healthcare services across the country, will ensure that all the remote communities in the 15 assemblies of the region have access to modern, high-quality medical facilities.
During the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, August 15, President Akufo-Addo expressed his optimism that this comprehensive upgrade would meet the healthcare needs of the Upper East Region.
“This comprehensive upgrade has transformed the hospital into a modern healthcare facility capable of meeting the region’s growing needs. Government set an ambitious goal to complete phase III of this project before the end of this year and I extend heartfelt appreciation to all the stakeholders who worked tirelessly to achieve this milestone,” he stated.
Phase III of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital project which began with a USD 12 million loan agreement between the Government of Ghana (GoG) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) on November 5, 2008, has seen various phases of development. SAUDCONSULT, the firm awarded the contract in November 2009, initially focused on designing and supervising the construction of the hospital.
However, it was soon realised that additional facilities were necessary to ensure the hospital’s full functionality. This led to the completion of the Adjunct Clinical Block in 2017, following extensive consultations with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ghana Health Service (GHS), and the SFD.
To further enhance the hospital’s capabilities, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) provided an additional USD 20 million loan, which facilitated the construction of essential facilities that were not covered under the initial loan. The hospital is now better equipped to serve the healthcare needs of the Upper East Region, offering a new level of care to its residents.
Key components of Phase III include a modern mortuary block, medical gas plant, energy farm, staff accommodation, solid waste management system, a comprehensive fence wall, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), and a laundry facility.
The Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, has announced that the newly commissioned Phase III of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, which includes a state-of-the-art CT scan unit, will provide significant relief to residents of the Upper East Region.
He said the new facility is expected to reduce the burden on patients who previously had to travel to Tamale for CT scan services, particularly for detecting stroke and other critical conditions.
The General Director of African Operations for the Saudi Fund for Development, Mohammed Al-Shammari, expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for development and humanitarian projects in friendly countries like Ghana.
He noted that the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital project is a testament to the strong relationship between Saudi Arabia and Ghana, and their shared commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure for the benefit of the people.
Source: Joshua Asaah
