President Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the construction of a 400-bed maternity and gynaecology facility at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The €145m facility to be constructed by Messrs HEBEDI JV will replace the dilapidated six-storey maternity building which is currently being used.

The 12-storey project which is expected to be completed in 30 months will also include a €45m Nephrology and Urology Center to provide specialised services in kidney disease treatment and management.

Speaking at a ceremony to break grounds, the President said the project is in fulfilment of a 2018 promise he made to the management of Korle Bu to help reconstruct the block to better position it to facilitate Ghana’s progress in quality healthcare delivery.

"In my recent visit to Korle Bu when I commissioned the intensive care unit, I was struck by the state of the maternal health block, today’s ceremony is in fulfilment of the promise I made then," he said.

Also speaking at the event, Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu disclosed that government will complete the construction of 11 health facilities across the country before the end of 2020.

He stressed that these projects which are not included in government’s Agenda 88, are at various levels of completion and would be commissioned in Bekwai, Tepa, Buipe, Somanya, and some seven other communities.

"We have come a long way in building our health infrastructure but the gap is still huge. As you may be aware, the government’s deliberate program will see to the completion of 11 healthcare facilities by the close of the year at the following locations. Somanya, Weta, Tepa, Buipe and Tolon, Bekwai, Nsokor, Kumaku, Twifo Praso, Formena, Sorla Tuna Kalba," he announced.

The President is also expected to cut the sod for the reconstruction of the La General Hospital in the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly.