Mark Kurt Nawaane assures KATH Mother and Baby Unit contractors of payment

Mark Kurt Nawaane, the Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, has urged contractors at the stalled Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Mother and Baby Unit to remain hopeful regarding government payments. The project has been suspended for approximately 14 months due to financial issues, leaving the critical healthcare infrastructure unfinished. During a visit by the parliamentary committee to the site, Nawaane emphasized that despite current funding challenges affecting various public projects, the government remains committed to honoring its financial obligations to ensure the facility’s completion.

The Consultant Project Manager for the unit, Emmanuel Fobi Asabere, expressed serious concerns about the impact of the prolonged delay on construction materials. According to Asabere, while physical construction is 56% complete and 75% of procurement has been finished, the 14-month hiatus has led to visible deterioration of on-site materials. He warned that the delay is causing defects in specialized equipment and could lead to the loss of manufacturer warranties, potentially increasing the overall project cost and further complicating the construction timeline.

The redesigned facility is expected to provide 509 beds, significantly enhancing maternal and child healthcare capacity at KATH. Nawaane encouraged the contractors to resume the installation of already procured materials where possible to mitigate further damage from exposure and environmental factors. He assured the project team that the Health Committee would continue to engage with relevant authorities to facilitate the release of funds and resolve outstanding financial disputes that have halted progress.

This intervention by the parliamentary committee aims to address the deadlock that has stalled the expansion of KATH’s maternal services. Nawaane expressed confidence that collaborative efforts between the government and the contractors would eventually secure the project's completion. The Mother and Baby Unit is seen as a vital project for reducing neonatal and maternal mortality in the Ashanti Region, and its resumption is considered a high priority for both the health sector and the community.