The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Assin Central Constituency, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has been appointed the ‘Advocate General’ for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to help solicit support for the hospital from public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations in and outside the country.
The appointment was made by the management and board of KATH, in the wake of the recognition of the philanthropic spirit and continuous support from Mr Agyapong to the hospital.
Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH, announced the appointment when he led the management of the hospital to call on Mr Agyapong at his office at the Kencity Media, at Madina, in Accra on Thursday.
Prof Addai-Mensah said management of the hospital was appreciative of the support it received and continues to receive from the MP.
He noted that if KATH had 10 persons cast in the mode of Mr Agyapong supporting its operations, the hospital could be turned into a world class capacity, capable of rendering services as in the advanced societies.
He explained that the hospital had not seen any major renovation since it was constructed in 1965
and to be able to effect such renovation, would require the support of public-spirited individuals in the country.
Prof. Addai-Mensah said even though their call on Mr Agyapong was to express management’s gratitude to him for his contributions, it was graceful that he had accepted to partner management to help galvanise support towards improving the facility.
To this end he said, the management and board had agreed to appoint him as the “Advocate General” of the hospital, stressing that, “We know his level of influence in the country so partnering him, we believe he will be able to get other public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations to come to our support.”
Prof. Addai-Mensah said the strategic importance of KATH could not be overemphasised as it served as a referral hospital to 13 out of the 16 regions in the country.
“You cannot imagine the immense contribution the payment of the $147,000 one year plan preventive maintenance and repairs of the linear accelerating machine at the Oncology department have had on the patients who visit the facility.”
On his part, Mr Agyapong expressed his preparedness to help raise the needed support for the hospital.
He said in his own small way, he would work to ensure that the hospital was developed into a world class facility, stressing that “In my own small way, I will work to get other benevolent individuals to do their little for the hospital.
Mr Agyapong who is also gunning to become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 general elections said he was of the belief that with the right support, Ghanaian doctors could perform excellently like doctors in the United States or Europe.
He said experience had shown that, it is important for medical facilities in the country to be equipped with the necessary logistics and equipment that would enable them function effectively.
The management presented Mr Agyapong with a citation and an appreciation letter.
The citation read “The board and management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital have the singular honour and pleasure to present this citation to Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central.
“We express our profound gratitude and appreciation for your selfless and unwavering support to the hospital over the years.
“Your enthusiasm and initiative in feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help cannot be overlooked.
“You singlehandedly donated an amount of $147.000 for the payment of a one year planned prevention maintenance (PPM) cost for the Linear Acceleration (LIMAC) machine at the Oncology Directorate of the hospital.
BY CLIFF EKUFFUL
