Various groups and an individual took their donations towards the Heal Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) project to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi during the fourth Awukudae festival of the year.
They made a cumulative contribution of almost half a million cedis as they paid homage to the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on June 5, 2024.
The donors included the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi, the Association of Police Officers of Ashanti (₵80,000), Businessman Nana Adjei Kyereme (₵10,000) and Asanteman Flagbearers (₵1,000).
Their donations on Wednesday amounted to some ₵441,000.
Catholic Church
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi gave the largest amount of the day as they presented a ₵350,000 cheque towards the project being spearheaded by the King.
Presenting it, the delegation of Catholic priests which included Rev Fr. Msgn. Louis Tuffour, the Vicar General of Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church and Father Michael Akwowuah, the Financial Administrator committed themselves to give more in support of the project.
Police
The Association of Police Officers of Ashanti led by the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, also made a donation of ₵80,000.
The group of Asantes made up of senior police officers, junior officers and retired officers also promised to make more donations towards the project in the coming days.
Businessman
A businessman by the name Nana Adjei Kyereme donated ₵10,000.
Mr Kyereme who told the gathering he was the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) President of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) 25 years ago and later Council Member of the University when His Majesty became the Chancellor, deemed it imperative to give his mite for the project.
Flag Bearers
Asanteman flag bearers also gave their widow’s mite for the project.
The two brothers who bear the flag of Asanteman wherever His Majesty goes donated ₵1,000.
HEAL KATH
The Heal KATH project is a US10 million revenue mobilization drive being championed by the King of the Asante Kingdom in the quest to renovate the dilapidated structure of the second-largest hospital and the only tertiary health institution in the Ashanti Region.
The hospital, since its construction in 1954, has been deprived of any enhanced renovation, leaving it in a sorry state.
After 70 years of its existence with successive governments passing through the years, none made it a point to attend to it.
At the launch of the Heal KATH Project in November 2023, the Chief Executive officer of the hospital, Prof Otchere Addai-Mensah, disclosed the agenda to renovate the hospital had been on its radar for a long time but had to be shelved due to lack of funds.
Already, the renovation work is ongoing; however, there is a need for more funds as less than 40% of the US$10 million has been raised.
Source: Manhyia Palace
