Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Ebenezer Kojo Kum has cut sod for the construction of a modern Accident Management Center in Apimanim.
The facility worth GH7.2 million, is being funded under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) of the Ministry for Special Development Initiative. The project is expected to be completed within a six month schedule, and would serve the Ahanta West Municipality, the Western Region and other parts of the country.
It is being supervised by the Coastal Development Authority (CODA) of the Ministry of Special Development Initiative.
Hon. Kojo Kum in his remarks at sod cutting ceremony for the project commended traditional authorities for availing land for the project. He emphasized that the facility when completed will save lives, particularly for emergent situations where patients could easily be referred to.
“The chiefs who released this land for the project must be commended for their selfless effort. Its my hope that this project will bring endearing to the good people of Ahanta West. In the past if any body got injured through an accident, that person will have to be transported to Effia Nkwanta or 37 Military Hospital, Accra.
“It is our expectation that accessing this facility from any part of the region will come with some ease and efficient service delivery” he said.
He explained that the contractor has been urged to adopt a more local content approach to the execution of the project, so the community could benefit it.
Deputy Regional Minister, Gifty Eugenia Kusi who graced the occasion, stated that the facility is a product of a promise made by the ruling New Patriotic Party under the leadership of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to improve health infrastructure in the Western Region.
“During the electioneering campaign we all agreed that the Western Region need its health infrastructure to be improved… and the regional hospital we don’t have because Effia Nkwanta which has been there for a long time has deteriorated. So the President promised that we will get a regional hospital. This is a starting point, and Effia Nkwanta too will be renovated” the minister intimated.
Director of Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Mr. Jerry Shaibu justified that government’s investment in the constituency may exceed the 1 million dollar allocation due to certain strategic infrastructure it seek to develop to impact a greater number of people.
“..but there are some constituencies that are benefiting more than a million dollars because of the need for the project, which will serve purposes other than that of the constituency alone. This Accident Management Center is for the Western Region and beyond, and the reasons for undertaking this project is key at this very time” he clarified.