The MTN Ghana Foundation has cut sod for the construction of a 60-bed maternity block and child health block for the Keta Government Hospital.

This follows an appeal from two citizens of the area, Torgbui Tengeh Gobbah and Kodzo Babah to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN, Selorm Adadevor who hails from the area.

The Keta Government Hospital currently has inadequate space for maternity, neonatal intensive care unit and child health block making it difficult for effective and efficient health delivery.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, Selorm Adadevoh noted that the project, when completed will help enhance quality health delivery in the Keta Municipality and beyond.

Mr. Adadevoh noted that access to health services, and healthcare delivery remains one of the pressing challenges in several communities in Ghana.

The project is expected to be completed in 12 months and will help improve the healthcare delivery of the residents.

He said Ghana continues to invest in healthcare and has made strides in the last decade.

“But despite the progress there is still a major gap to where we should be. And this calls for immediate intervention by organisations with a capacity to help and this is why MTN Ghana foundation is here today," Mr. Adadevoh said.

The multiple award-winning CEO said the MTN Foundation has healthcare as one of its three pillars and has embarked on 53 healthcare projects across the country over the last 15 years.

He said, the MTN Foundation has constructed a new Neonatal and Child Unit for the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region and also a 40-bed maternity block for the Tema General Hospital.

"In the past, we have constructed a new Neonatal and Child Unit for the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region, as well as a 40-bed maternity block for the Tema General Hospital in the Greater Accra Region. As you can see, this 60-bed is the only one of a few maternity ward projects.”

Mr. Adadevoh noted that the Keta Hospital project happens to be the largest maternity block being undertaken by the MTN Foundation since its inception.

He urged the Management and staff to take adequate care of the facility when completed. He commended the Chiefs and people of Anlo for their efforts toward quality healthcare.

The Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Senanu Kwesi Dzokoto in his address said the project is a dream come true and would greatly impact positively the healthcare delivery of the people.

Dr. Senanu Dzokoto noted that with the teaching hospital situated in the midsection of the region and the regional hospital halfway, there was the need for the Keta Hospital to be well-equipped to help make healthcare delivery accessible to the people.

The MCE for the area, Emmanuel Gemegah noted that the annual action plan for the year 2023 included the implementation of a number of facilities for the Assembly in the coming year.

“We are therefore excited that MTN Ghana is here to further complement our efforts to achieve this important duty of providing essential needs of our people. Be assured that we as an Assembly will supervise and support the Management and contractors on the project to ensure that the project will be done within the stipulated time frame,” Mr. Gemegah said.

The Awoemefia of Anlo Kingdom, Torgbui Sri lauded the MTN Foundation for their tremendous efforts towards improving healthcare in the country.

Torgbui Sri noted that the facility would help the residents of the area and beyond and also bring great relief to everyone, especially the patients and the staff of the hospital.

The ultra-modern state of art 60-bed high-tech maternity and neo-natal center for the Keta Municipal Hospital was initially announced by MTN in December 2021 as part of their 25th-anniversary celebration projects alongside building a STEM Robotics Lab for the Mamfe Girls School in Eastern Region.

The initiative was also masterminded by Torgbi Tenge-Gobah Sedoh and other opinion leaders who are all part of an NGO called; Project Volta, an NGO poised for spearheading developmental projects in the region.

The project when completed, will consist of a 40-bed maternity ward, 20-bed neonatal unit, delivery, and lying-in wards, 2 operating theatres, a 20-bed hostel for mothers, consulting rooms, laboratory & dispensary, anesthetic rooms, restrooms, canteen and storage rooms, a gas tank among others.