The Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, is urging the government to speed up work on the long-delayed Maternity Block, saying the project’s early completion is crucial to easing pressure on the hospital’s overburdened facilities.

Speaking in Kumasi, Dr Baidoo welcomed the project’s inclusion in the 2026 national budget but stressed that “sustained commitment” will be needed to ensure the building is delivered on time. He warned that the existing infrastructure continues to struggle under increasing patient numbers, especially for maternal and child health services.

The Maternity and Children’s Block is one of Ghana’s most delayed health infrastructure projects. First conceived during the Acheampong era, the original structure — abandoned for decades — was finally demolished after engineers declared it unsafe.

A fresh contract was subsequently awarded in February 2021 to Brazilian firm Contracta for a modern 507-bed facility.

The first phase was expected to be completed in May 2024, but progress has stalled, leaving the Ashanti Region’s biggest referral centre without the additional capacity it urgently needs.

When completed, the five-storey block will house modern theatres and specialised wards, including paediatric neurology, haematology, cardio-respiratory care, a Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, a Mother and Baby Unit, and a Paediatric Renal Unit. Hospital authorities say the facility will serve as a one-stop centre for comprehensive care for mothers, newborns, and children.

Dr. Baidoo also raised concerns about what he called the “over-concentration” of major health investments in Accra, despite the continued strain on regional hospitals such as KATH. He expressed hope that with support from the media and other stakeholders, stalled health projects in Kumasi would receive renewed attention.

KATH’s Director of Administration, Fred Effah-Yeboah, said management remains optimistic the maternity block and other key infrastructure projects will be completed and commissioned as part of activities marking the hospital’s 70th anniversary. He revealed that a series of programmes have been lined up to celebrate the milestone, highlighting Komfo Anokye’s role as a critical referral centre for the northern half of the country.