Veep commissions $7.5m 100-bed Ghana Infectious Disease Centre

• Posted on July 27, 2020July 27, 2020
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned a 100-bed Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC) for treatment and management of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the country.

Funded by the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund
The ultra-modern facility worth $7.5 million was funded by the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund.
536 Patriotic and industrious Ghanaians made donations
The funds were donated by 536 patriotic and industrious Ghanaians to back the project to support government’s efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
$5.5m cash, $2m free services
This is made up of $5.5 million in cash including post project decommissioning activities, as well as $2 million in kind (consultancy services, construction supervision and tax waivers).
Between 66 pesewas and GH¢10m donated
Corporate entities and individuals contributed between 66 pesewas and GH¢10 million to the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund.
Components of the facility
The first-ever GIDC facility, located at the Ga East Municipal Hospital, comprised a level three biomedical laboratory, a 21-bed Intensive Care Unit, a dispensary, a triage unit, waiting areas, nurses’ station, VIP and general wards, and a medical gas house. It was constructed through the collaboration of civilian and military engineers, planners and architects within three months.
Designers of the facility
The structure was designed jointly by the Built Environment Professionals, made up of the Ghana Institute of Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Planners, the Ghana Armed Forces and specialist consultants from the Ministry of Health and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
Various design enhancements requested by GMA
Various design enhancements were done in response to additional requests by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other infectious disease clinicians and biomedical scientists.  
The enhancements include the incorporation of a level 2.5 scalable to a level 3 biomedical laboratory, in consultation with officials from the Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, the addition of a 21-bed intensive care unit and total insulation of the centre for energy efficiency since the facility will be required to be climatically controlled throughout its use.
Another one is the application of ultra-violet radiation treatment of air entering and exiting the facility to ensure no contaminated air exits the building.
President Akufo-Addo cuts sod on April 17, 2020
President Akufo-Addo, on April 17, 2020, cut the sod for the construction of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre.
Similar facilities planned for Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale
It is expected that the three ecological zones – coastal, middle belt and northern – would have similar facilities, which would be constructed in Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale respectively.
COVID-19 Private Sector Fund targets GH¢100m
The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, which seeks to raise a minimum of GH¢100 million, was established by a number of private businesses drawn from diverse sectors in the country to support government’s efforts to conquer the coronavirus pandemic.
Relief services to individuals and families
The fund also seeks to extend relief services to individuals and families who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, undertake sensitisation programmes and also support institutions at the forefront of the fight.
Projects of Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund
Since its establishment, the fund has been embarking on a number of projects in line with its agenda.
‘Feed a Kayayo Project’
Through one of its initiatives, dubbed ‘Feed a Kayayo Project’, more than 140,000 free hot meals were served to persons affected by the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi.
Supply of PPE
Under its project dubbed ‘Protect and Resource the Frontline,’ the fund has also supplied tertiary care personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Ga East Municipal Hospital, which is the primary treatment centre for COVID-19 patients.
Commissioning the centre, Dr Bawumia, in an address, said with the sacrifices, dedication and ingenuity exhibited by Ghanaians, the government had decided to award the 88 district hospitals, six regional hospitals in newly created regions and a psychiatric hospital to local contractors.
He recounted the various strategies and interventions rolled out by the government to contain the spread of the virus.
Dr Bawumia believed that with the necessary support, Ghanaians could do big exploits to move the nation’s development efforts forward.
Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, a Deputy Minister of Health, on his part, said President Akufo-Addo’s government had shown leadership in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, which had seen between 87 and 90 per cent recoveries and 0.5 per cent mortality rate.
He said COVID-19 was “visible but not invincible”, and believed that should Ghanaians adhere strictly to the safety and preventive etiquettes, “we would defeat the disease.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Mr Senyo Kwasi Hosi, the managing trustee of the fund, identified building a team out of individual volunteering professionals, sustaining the commitment of workmen  amidst COVID-19, and navigating the global and local supply chain challenges in an era of lockdowns, and doing it all at the height of tropical rainy season as the biggest challenges of the project.
“But we overcame and have achieved this feat because the team never lost sight of the goal and truly rallied round the flag of Ghana.
“We were determined to prove that Nation had the talents and abilities and to make Ghana proud,” he noted.  
 Mr said the team was united in their determination that not a single life would be lost that could be attributed to a delay in delivering this facility.  
He said they battled 9 cases of COVID-19 on site, and yes, there was   quite a scare, but they rallied, with the clear understanding that how they react may either make them part of the solution or enforce the problem.
“While some abandoned site, many stayed true to the cause, openly declaring they shall stand and win for Ghana” he added.
 The Managing Director of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited is the chairman of the team, with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Mr Senyo Kwasi Hosi, as the managing trustee of the fund.
Other members of the management team are the Chairman of Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd, Mr Edward Effah; a Director, CH Group, Mr Kwaku Bediako; the CEO, Woodfield Energy Resources Ltd, Mr John Taylor; the Chairman of Wilkins Engineering Ltd, Mr Omane Frimpong; and the Managing Director of Bamson Group, Mr Kwame Ofosu Bamfo.
The rest are the Group Chairman of Kasapreko, Mr Kwabena Adjei; the Chairman of Svani Group Ltd, Mr Thomas Svanikier; the CEO of the Multimedia Group Ltd, Mr Kwasi Twum; and a commissioner at the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ms Julie Essiam.

By Elvis DARKO, Accra