Heal Komfo Anokye project in limbo over GHC1.7m import duty for tiles

The Chairman of Otumfour Osei Tutu II’s Heal Komfo Anokye project, Samuel Adu-Boakye has expressed disappointment about the Ministry of Health for its lack of active participation in the ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ initiative which is aimed at remodeling the gradually dilapidating Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

According to Adu-Boakye, despite extending invitations to the former Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu and senior officials for the project’s commencement, none attended, he emphasized that the Ministry’s absence is disheartening and discouraging.

“The Ministry of Health is aware of the project, but they are not part of the committee, they don’t have a representative there either, the sad part of all this is that we wrote a letter to invite the Minister of Health to invite him to the commencement of the project, he didn’t turn up, his deputy didn’t turn up, neither did his Chief Director,” he said.

“It would have been very encouraging if they tried making an effort to visit the hospital and perhaps, we, the project heads, and enquired on ways they could support the initiative. We would know they were interested in the well-being of the hospital, but that hasn’t happened yet,” he lamented to Nana Yaa Brefo and JB on Yen Nsempa, Onua FM.

His concerns coincide with the project facing financial burdens due to significant amount required to be paid as import duty to the tune of GHC1.7 million to release 10 containers of tiles needed for the hospital project.

Adu-Boakye noted that this financial strain could have been alleviated with government and the ministry’s assistance. “I am not saying this to disgrace the government and its leaders,” he stated, “but we need help and support.”

Now we have to use a huge chunk of the money donated to the ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ project, GHC 1.7 million, to pay for duties, when perhaps the government could have helped us with that cost since the hospital is a government hospital.”

The ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ project was launched by the Asantehene, in collaboration with KATH, to raise $10 million to renovate Blocks A, B, C and D of the hospital.

The project was to renovate the almost dilapidated 70-year tertiary facility and also serve as a legacy project for the 25th anniversary of the enstoolment of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

As part of efforts to reduce the cost of the renovation and do much with the money raised, the hospital wrote to the government through the Ministry of Finance to seek a duty waiver on the materials and equipment meant for the project.

However, he said for almost two months after the letter was sent, “We are yet to even receive an acknowledgement from the ministry to know that something is being done about the request.”

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