VEEP inspects multi billion-dollar hospital project

Kumasi, June 11, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend inspected works on a 55 million-Euros national Emergency Accident Centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the first in the West African Sub-Region.

The expansion project, which would also make the health facility the biggest in the country also include a 25 billion cedis Children's and Maternity Wards and Nurses Training College, estimated to cost 10 billion cedis.

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, who conducted the Vice President round, said the Centre had the capacity to admit 300 patients and support the National Ambulance Service. All personnel at the medical facility would sign an understanding not to embark on industrial action due to the delicate nature of their work.

Vice President Alhaji Mahama who was ending a three-day working visit to Kumasi Metropolis appealed to the striking Doctors and Paramedics to return to work since government was moving around the clock to meet their demands.

He also appealed to the construction workers desist from pilfering and other activities that would hype the cost of the projects.

Vice President Aliu Mahama also used the visit to formally hand over documents covering the 14.7 million-dollar reconstruction works on Kumasi City Hotel to the Chinese Contractors. China Hualong Construction Limited has 18 months to rejuvenate the five-star hotel constructed by the Nkrumah Administration under the defunct State Hotels Corporation.

Ghana-Libya Holding Company would manage the project expected to facilitate the success of Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebration and African Nations Cup in 2008.

Vice President Mahama expressed the hope that the contractors would complete the project on schedule to bring back the smiles on the faces of the people of Kumasi.

He asked workers at the site to resolve all labour disputes with Management through dialogue in order not to stall the progress of work. Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said reconstruction of the Hotel was in line with government's policy to put all national assets to good use, citing renovation works on Peaduase Lodge and Flagstaff House.

He asked Crystal TV, a Kumasi-based television Station that occupies the Hotel premises to quit by Monday 12, 2006. Mr Samuel Kwaku Boafo, out-going Ashanti Regional Minister said the project was long overdue and indicted the Kumasi City Planners for not designing a five-star hotel in the Metropolis. 11 June 06