Demolishing of the forty-five (45) year old Maternity and Children
block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) by authorities after
structural integrity cannot be the only solution.
“Though I don’t know what went
into it, but the demolition is not the last resort”, Structural Engineer, based
in Kumasi, Mr. Richard Nsiah stated in an interview.
The government has begun demolishing the abandoned
45-year-old maternity block which was being funded by German Bank, Deutsche
Bank, at the cost of €155 million after contractors say the building is weak
for its purpose as Maternity block.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo, on Friday, 15th May, 2020, cut sod for the reactivation of work for
the completion of the project.
“Every problem started here. If you are to rework on
such abandoned project, there should be diligent assessment before the work
resumes. Identify every problem and the current status of the building”, the
building expert told host, Aduanaba kofi Asante Ennin.
“This will enable you to know that we should pay
attention to a particularly section [of the building] and know the materials to
use for construction”, Engineer Richard Nsiah added.
According to Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon
Osei Mensah, “the contractor after assessing the building came to the
conclusion that the building is not fit for the purpose, hence it has to be
demolished”.
“Kojo, we all know the building has been abandoned
for 45 years and it has become weak for its purpose as Maternity block. Though
the building was awarded to a contractor when President Akufo-Addo cut sod for
its reactivation but per the contractor’s advice after the project assessment,
it has to be demolished” Hon Simon Osei Mensah revealed.
Hon Simon Osei Mensah disclosed that “government will
build a new maternity block after demolishing the old structure”.
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