The Minister of Defence, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, has said that plans were far advanced to build a 500-bed Military Hospital in Kumasi. The proposed hospital, estimated to cost 130 million dollars, would be built opposite Prempeh College on a land given to the ministry by the Asantehene. Dr Addo-Kufuor said this when he called on Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, after inspection of projects and interacting with troops at the Four Garrison as part of his visit to the garrison on Monday. He said it was the policy of the government that a military hospital was built in Kumasi and that all the drawings of the four-storey building were ready and that contacts were going on in the United States, Germany and South Africa for funds. The Defence Minister said the project would be executed under Public Private Partnership and when completed it would be part of the 37 Military Hospital in Accra and sister to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. Dr Addo-Kufuor, who inspected the Senior Non-Commission Officers' quarters project and other ranks transit quarters at Iddris barracks, rehabilitation works on buildings at the Complex barracks and the construction of bungalow for the General Officer Commanding (GOC), told the Regional Minister that he was satisfied with the progress of work. He said he was disturbed with the road network at the garrison and appealed to him to assist in that direction. Mr Owusu-Ansah said he was pleased about developments going on at the garrison and expressed his readiness to support whenever possible. He said he was optimistic that the continued cordial relations existing between the military and the civilian population would be deepened to ensure absolute peace and order in the society. Source: GNA