The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Mr Kwame Frimpong, has said funds allocated for the completion of the 44-year-old abandoned 750-bed capacity maternity block at the health post, will be used to build a newly-designed 500-bed capacity block.

The 44-year-old abandoned maternity block is set to be demolished to pave the way for a new structure.

The old one failed a structural integrity assessment. 

Although President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the completion of the project on Friday, 15 May 2020, where €155 million was secured from the German Deutsche Bank for it, experts advised that the structure be demolished and totally replaced.

The project, which was awarded to a contractor called Contracta, was expected to be completed within 36 months.

Speaking in an interview with Class91.3FM's Ashanti regional correspondent, Elisha Adarkwah, the PRO of the hospital said the €155 million allocated for the completion of the project will be used to put up the new one.

Mr Frimpong said the project will be in two phases, explaining that the first phase will be the 500-bed capacity after which the government will secure new funds for the second phase.  

The second phase, according to him, has been proposed to the government and will help meet the original 750-bed capacity.

The first phase has been projected to be completed within three-and-a-half years.