COVID-19 Private Sector Fund appeals for support

The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund has called on Ghanaians to support the construction of Ghana’s first infectious disease centre by contributing financially towards the completion of the project which is sited at the Ga East Municipal Hospital.

It has therefore launched a special appeal for funds for the resources needed to complete the project on schedule.

Dubbed the #10GhanaChallenge, the COVID-19 Private Sector Fund managers are hoping to raise the needed funds to complete the facility which was initially estimated to cost about $3.5 million (GH¢19.83 million).

Out of the GH¢100 million targeted, so far, the Fund has raised GH¢24.1million.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Project Manager, Lt Col A. B. Tekyi, explained that the appeal for funds had been launched to help raise the needed funds to complete the works on time.

“The project is gradually nearing completion and we think it is time the ordinary Ghanaian also comes onboard, there is the need for everyone to contribute no matter how small to help complete it on schedule,” he indicated.

Infectious centre

Originally scheduled to be completed within six weeks from the day construction started on April 17, the completion date has been rescheduled after some modifications were made to the original plan.

These modifications include the incorporation of a level 2.5 biomedical laboratory and the addition of a 21-bed intensive care unit.

Also, a total insulation of the facility for energy efficiency and the application of ultra-violet radiation treatment of air entering and exiting the facility to ensure no contaminated air exits the building have been included and that has added up to the cost.

The Ghana Armed Forces regiment, 48 Engineers, are undertaking the construction work on the 100-bed facility which is a private sector initiative. It is in response of the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

When completed, the facility will be the first-ever Specialist Infectious Disease Centre to be built in the country.

Work so far

When the Daily Graphic visited the site last Saturday, it observed that work had progressed steadily since its last visit.

From the lintel level at the last visit, the building has now been roofed and given the first coat of white paint while sliding window panels had been fixed at some portions.

Works had also begun on the pavement as workers were seen cutting and laying the blocks.

#10GhanaChallenge

The fund managers  are hoping to raise GH¢7.1 million more to complete the facility.

The #10GhanaChallenge is mostly a social media campaign where after making a donation of GH¢ 10, donors are urged to produce a short video clip to announce their contribution and then nominate some friends to also contribute GH¢10 each towards the project.

Ownership

 Lt Col Tekyi explained that apart from helping raise funds, the #10GhanaChallenge also was a way of making Ghanaians a part of the project as it was not just a private sector initiative.

“It is a project for Ghana and not the COVID-19 Private Sector Trust Fund. At the end of the project, we will give it to the Ghana Health Service and Ghanaians will own it.

“As a way of supporting the initiative, we think that when we open the door to Ghanaians to be a part of this project, they will feel proud that they contributed to the success of this facility,” he stated.

On the progress of work, Lt Col Tekyi said: “We are far advanced.”

“Currently we have almost everything in place. The shell and core will be completed by the end of the week and we have a couple of weeks to go. We have some items that we are expecting to be shipped into the country. We need to put in the medical systems and some of them are offshore,” he said.

The project manager added that they would also do training before the project would be handed over to the Ghana Health Service.

“We are geared to finish this project on time. We are working day and night and we are on course,”  Lt.Col Tekyi added.

The COVID-19 Private Sector Fund

The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund is a private sector-led initiative set up to provide a prompt response to the health crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has an 11-member management team who are all serving pro bono.

The Managing Director of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited is the Chairman of the team, with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chamber 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.