BAWA ROCK Limited, a gold trading and mining company based in Obuasi, has donated GH₵200,000 to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to support discharged patients who are unable to settle their medical bills.

The donation forms part of the company’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and is aimed at easing the burden on vulnerable patients who, although medically fit for discharge, are unable to leave the hospital due to outstanding bills.

The Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Kwasi Ofori Boadi Agyemang, who facilitated the engagement between the company and the hospital, disclosed that BAWA ROCK Limited had engaged hospital management over the past few days to outline the purpose and scope of the donation. He explained that the company was introduced to the facility after identifying the growing challenge of unpaid medical bills affecting patient turnover and hospital operations.

BAWA ROCK Limited is owned by Alhaji Rasheed Bawa Namoro and operates within the gold trading and mining sector. The presentation was made on behalf of the company by Mr. Eric Addae Boateng, Business Development and Sustainability Lead at BAWA ROCK Limited. According to him, the donation is expected to benefit between 150 and 200 patients who are currently facing financial difficulties in settling their hospital bills.

Mr. Boateng further revealed that the intervention came after the Kumasi Mayor reached out to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company to extend a helping hand to the hospital.

He emphasized that the company remains committed to supporting health and social welfare initiatives that directly impact the lives of vulnerable Ghanaians.

Receiving the donation, the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, expressed profound gratitude to BAWA ROCK Limited for the timely support. He clarified that as a public health facility, KATH does not discriminate against patients or turn anyone away due to inability to pay.

“We do not detain patients simply because they cannot pay. However, there are procedures we must follow,” Dr. Baidoo explained. He disclosed that in 2025 alone, the hospital recorded nearly GH₵2 million in unpaid medical bills, a situation that raised concerns during audits.

“When patients indicate they cannot pay, we are required to follow up to verify their claims. In some cases, our teams have traveled as far as Hamile in the Jirapa/Lambussie District in the Upper West Region to confirm the patient’s situation,” he said. According to him, these measures are necessary to satisfy audit requirements and demonstrate that the hospital has exhausted all reasonable efforts before allowing patients to leave without settling their bills.

Dr. Baidoo noted that the donation would significantly improve the lives of affected patients and reduce the pressure on the hospital. He appealed to BAWA ROCK Limited to consider making the support a regular intervention, suggesting quarterly or more frequent donations to help address the persistent challenge of unpaid bills.

“This gesture will make a great difference in the lives of our patients. We will be grateful if such support can continue, as it will benefit many more people,” he added.