The first phase of the newly upgraded Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge has been officially opened to provide quality healthcare to the general public.
Valued at US$250million, the project was funded by US-Exim Bank and HSBC, designed by Perkins and Wills, and built by Bouygues Bâtiment International (BBI), with GE Healthcare coming on board as a technology partner through the supply and installation of various high-end medical equipment for the 420-bed hospital.
As one of the modern and secondary level referral regional hospitals in Ghana, the new facility will cater for residents in the catchment area of the hospital and this includes Nima, Mamobi and Accra Central which have the highest population density.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu noted that, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government would soon secure funding to commence the second phase of the project which is expected to be completed by 2018 as the health of Ghanaians is a priority.
“We feel it is justifiable for a new physical facility to be built for the hospital and also the central location of the hospital provides for excellent accessibility and disposability to the public and if developed, can provide tremendous healthcare service to the population,” he added.
The minister thanked the previous administrations of presidents Atta-Mills and Mahama for securing financing and seeing to the construction of the facility.
Touching on the high level of partnership that saw to the completion of the project, Mr. Agyeman-Manu noted that “our partnership with GE Healthcare and the US Government helps us to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Sustainable Development Goals.”
He added that, “these goals lay out several health-specific targets, including addressing the need for more equitable and sustainable development that promotes inclusive growth to the benefit of all Ghanaians.”
Farid Fezoua, CEO and President for GE Healthcare Africa, said the project affirms GE’s commitment to bringing the latest advances in medical imaging technology and solutions to Ghana, through unique public–private partnerships such as this one.
“Our world-class technology will allow clinicians at Greater Ridge Regional Hospital to see and detect disease like never-before,” he added enthusiastically.
More than just a supplier of equipment, GE Healthcare adopts the role of a solutions partner, addressing global healthcare needs by providing technologies with clinically and economically relevant value propositions designed at low cost structures.
GE’s technology also lead to the development of holistic solutions that aim to improve clinical quality and patient outcomes; generate capital solutions and new business models to ensure project viability and long term sustainability; and advancing education, skills development and awareness of healthcare professionals to promote local capacity building.
The hospital, currently, houses the single largest installation of GE Healthcare equipment in Ghana. it is equipped with cutting edge diagnostic equipment such as an ultramodern 1.5T MRI, a 64 slice CT scanner, an ultrasound imaging machine, a digital X-ray machine, a digital fluoroscopy machine; and a PACS/RIS system amongst others.
The result is a hospital equipped for a full continuum of care across the radiology, maternal and infant care, cardiology and surgery care area.
Robert Jackson, the United State Ambassador to Ghana noted that the hospital was awarded, in December, 2016, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.
He explained that, worldwide, this certification is the most widely used third-party certification for green buildings-buildings that are sustainable and resource efficient. “This facility is now the first LEED-certified hospital on the African continent. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Ghana and for those who were involved in the design and construction of this project,” he added.
