President John Mahama made a working visit to Kumasi on Friday to commission the newly completed Ashanti Regional Hospital, a GH₵320 million state-of-the-art facility that will serve over 2 million residents across the region.
The 500-bed hospital, located at Atonsu, is equipped with a modern intensive care unit, a cardiac centre, a cancer treatment wing, and a trauma and emergency department — the first of its kind outside Accra.
"This hospital is a statement of our commitment to equitable healthcare for every Ghanaian, regardless of where they live," the President declared at the commissioning ceremony attended by ministers, traditional rulers, and thousands of residents.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who attended the ceremony, commended the government for fulfilling a long-standing promise to the people of Ashanti. "Our people have waited long for this. We are grateful, but we also hold the government accountable to staff it fully and maintain it properly," he said.
The hospital will create over 1,200 direct jobs including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and support staff. The Ghana Health Service has already begun recruitment, with priority given to health workers from the Ashanti Region.
Opposition MPs from the region welcomed the facility but raised concerns about the procurement process, calling for a parliamentary audit of the construction contracts. The government has said all contracts were awarded through competitive tendering.
The President also used the visit to inspect ongoing road construction projects in Kumasi, including the long-delayed Suame interchange, which is now 78% complete.
