The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, a private sector-led initiative has set out a major plan to construct a 100-bed COVID-19 Treatment and Isolation facility to complement government efforts to contain the coronavirus.
Construction works on the new facility is expected to commence on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, and scheduled to be completed between three to six weeks after take-off.
The Managing Trustee of the Fund, Mr Senyo Hosi, who revealed this in an interview with Joy FM on Friday, said preparations towards the commencement of the project were far advanced.
“We are going to build a 100-bed facility and want to do it in not more than six weeks. We are breaking ground on Tuesday. Yesterday, we had a commencement meeting to get architects and engineers from the Built Environment Professionals (BEP), Ghana Institute of Architects, Ghana Institute of Surveyors, the Ghana Armed Forces Engineers Regiment, Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and a team of medics. As we speak, they are actually seated. We want to sign off on design today. We met the President yesterday and he gave his blessings. The Minister of Health has also been a key champion of this entire project,” he revealed.
The Fund
The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, which seeks to raise a minimum of GH¢100 million has been established by a number of private businesses drawn from diverse sectors in the country to support government’s efforts to conquer the coronavirus pandemic.
The Fund also seeks to extend relief services to individuals and families, who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, undertake sensitisation programmes, and also support institutions at the forefront of the fight.
Since its establishment, the Fund has been embarking on a number of projects in conformity with its agenda. Through one of its initiatives dubbed ‘Feed A Kayayei Project” more than 140,000 free hot meals have been served to persons affected by the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi.
Under its project dubbed “Protect and Resource the Frontline,” the Fund has also supplied tertiary care personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the Ga East Municipal Hospital, which is the primary treatment centre for COVID-19.
Focus on other projects
Mr Hosi said following an intervention by the government to offer free meals to the vulnerable within the period, the Fund would be wrapping up its Kayayei Project and redirect its resources into other critical projects.
“We want to redirect our resources into other projects which include feeding the frontliners, supplying them with PPEs, and the 100-bed facility we are going to construct,” he said.
While expressing profound gratitude to its donors and volunteers, Mr Hosi appealed to the public to contribute to the Fund to enable it achieve its full objectives of supporting the total containment of the disease.
“To donate, visit www.ghanacovid19fund.com and hit the donate button. You can donate through USSD, online with your card, or mobile money. You can also pay by bank transfer or by cheque. All the instructions are live on our website,” he appealed.
“All our platinum sponsors who will fund our 100-bed facility will have their names published on our honour wall in the building,” he said.
For her part, the Volunteer Team Lead for the ‘Feed a Kayayei Project’, Gifty Oware Aboagye expressed appreciation to all persons who supported the successful implementation of the project.
The project has an ambitious goal of completion of the 100-bed facility in six weeks