President John Mahama has commissioned the newly renovated 420-bed Greater Accra Regional Hospital formerly Ridge Hospital, Wednesday.

The President was beside himself with joy that his government was able to deliver such a key project to Ghanaians.

“What we are doing is to provide equipment in the new facilities that we have so that our health professionals will be able to give off their best to the patients. We know that our health professionals operate in very challenging circumstances.

The President bemoaned how equipment for diagnosing basic ailments are difficult to come by reiterating government’s efforts at making that a thing of the past by providing such facilities to advance the quality of health of Ghanaians.

“We have well-trained health care professionals and I think that that will enhance the quality of health of our people,” he said. 

Mr Mahama in a speech read on his behalf by the Health Minister, Alex Segbefia, hailed the former president Jerry Rawlings' contribution to the Hospital. 

The former presidential staffer noted that the new Greater Accra Regional Hospital would concentrate on providing healthcare to the surrounding areas of the hospital.

Residents of areas like Nima, Mamobi and Accra Central which have the highest population density in Region are to be served with world-class medical facilities, the Minister said.

"Surveys conducted at the Ridge Hospital indicate that about one out of every four of the daily total output of the hospital are residents from these localities which are relatively deprived communities in the Accra metropolis,” Mr Segbefia read.

He said the central location of the Hospital provides for "an excellent accessibility and disposability to the public and would now provide tremendous healthcare services to the population."

Mr Segbefia said the facility is close to several businesses and financial institutions to boost the confidences of the surrounding institutions and investors alike with proper health care a stone throw away when the need arises.

According to him the Ministries and the stadium close by is a special advantage that would ensure rapid access to a modern hospital in times of emergencies.

He mentioned the special role the centrality of the Hospital has provided in times past like during the May 9 stadium disaster.   

"It has always been the desire of the Korle-Bu Hospital to partner with the Ridge Hospital in the training of medical students in residence in postgraduate programs. 

"This has become necessary because of a large number of students the situation makes it difficult to have adequate clinical contacts. With the new Ridge Hospital, adequeately resourced it would help the institutions contribute to immensely to the training of doctors and other specialists for the nation. 

Government of Ghana financed the facility with support from the Exim and HSBC Bank.

The second phase of the project which would see the completion of the Hospital is expected to be done in the next two years.