The ARB Apex Bank Limited and the Association of Rural Banks in the Ashanti Region have made a donation of GH¢160,000 to the Heal Komfo Anokye Project.

The Heal KATH Project aims at renovating the 70-year-old Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

The Asantehene launched an appeal in November 2023 to encourage individuals and corporate organizations to help mobilize financial resources for the comprehensive renovation of KATH, enhancing and strengthening the quality of healthcare at the only referral hospital in the northern part of Ghana.

The ARB Apex Bank Limited, the supervisory body of rural and community banks in Ghana contributed an amount of Gh50,000, while the 22 rural banks in the Ashanti Region contributed Gh110,000, amounting to the total of Gh 160,000 to the Heal KATH project.

KATH Head of the Public Affairs Department, Kwame Frimpong, appreciating the gesture, revealed that one out of four blocks under rehabilitation is almost complete.

“With all the donations that have come, we are about finishing one block. But we’ve not touched blocks B, C and D yet,” he stated.

He added that the donation will greatly contribute to the mobilization of resources for the Heal KATH project.

“This donation will go a long way to help with the resource mobilization of this project. We believe that if everybody emulates this example, we will be in a position to raise enough funds to complete the project in a short time. So it’s something that we appreciate a lot. And we believe that it serves as a good example for other institutions and individuals to follow suite,” he said.

Head of Cooperate Affairs at the ARB Apex Bank, Maximus Attah, emphasized the importance of healthcare to the banking institution.

“A large chunk of our CSR budget is dedicated to healthcare so we decided that we need to come and support this worthy cause, which is why we came together with the Association of Rural Banks-Ashanti chapter.

“We came to support this landmark project which we believe is dear to the heart of Asantehene. We believe that a healthy workforce is critical to the productivity and prosperity of the nation, Ghana. We are happy with what’s been done with the donations so far made,” he expressed.

President of the Association of Rural Banks, Ashanti Region, Ben Kwakye-Adeefe hopes the donation helps to reduce the pressure on the hospital and help effectively in the rebuilding efforts.

“This facility admits patients from the Northern Belt, Southern Belt and the Middle belts as well, so there’s almost always pressure on the Komfo Anokye because it has been used over the years. It has become important and necessary that we also come in the help.”

“We are very much sure that management will utilize the resources that we have given equitably in terms of the areas that they intend renovating. We want to hope that whatever we have given to them, will be used to cater for the renovation of those areas to improve facilities that are used,” he said.

KATH says their commitment to the project remains unwavering, with the support from the public.