Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday, June 24, 2020, extolled the remarkable display of patriotism by Ghanaians in partnering with the government to build the nation’s first Infectious Diseases Centre.
The 100-bed infectious diseases hospital, which is at Ga East Municipality in the Greater Accra Region, was built to cater for infectious disease, following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.
Speaking during the commissioning and handing over ceremony, Dr. Bawumia said despite the ravaging effects of Covis-19 on the country, it has also brought to bear, the patriotic nature of Ghanaians, who responded to President Akufo-Addo’s call for national cohesion to battle the pandemic and has resulted in the building of the 100-bed special hospital.
The Vice President, who described the commissioning as “a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and patriotism,” also paid glowing tribute to all those who contributed to making the construction of the facility possible in record time, especially the Ghana Armed Forces who built it.
“Today is a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and patriotism and a dedication to humanity by a team of men and women, 536 strong, working 24 hours a day to make the impossible a reality. We are here because of you and Ghana must know you.
“It is rare to find a group of civilian professionals, work in close quarters and on strict timelines, working 24 hours non-stop with members of the Ghana Armed Forces in their unbending discipline and demand for precision in a flat chain of command,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The facility was sponsor by the Bank of Ghana, Association of Bankers, GNPC, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Ghana National Gas Company, CH Group, Legend and Glass Aluminium Systems and Tropical Cable and Conductors.
Project Background
In April 2020, the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund (GCPSF) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health planned to undertake the construction of a 100-bed infectious disease, isolation and treatment centre at Ga East Municipal Hospital to support the government’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the commencement of the project on April 17, 2020, and it was initially scheduled to be completed in 6 weeks. However, due to a change in plans to add additional facilities to enhance its operation, its completion schedule was extended to 12 weeks.
The facility consists of a level 2.5 biomedical laboratory, a triage unit, waiting areas, nurses station, VIP and general wards, a 21-bed intensive care units with various categories within, a pharmacy, a recovery courtyard, a dispensary, access and exit ramps, access corridors, and ambulatory entrance and exit canopy, a medical gas house, an 800KVA generator house, among others.
The 100-bed hospital was delivered at a cost of about USD 5.5 million-plus in-kind cost of about USD 2 million, making it a total of USD 7.5 million.
The 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces constructed the facility.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
