LIVE ABOVE REPROACH (PAGE 25)

THE Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Reverend R.R. Brobbey, has cautioned newly ordained ministers of the church to live above reproach or face the appropriate sanctions.
He said it had become a common phenomenon that some ministers of the church did not discharge their work in the right manner and to the displeasure of their congregation, who consequently, rejected those ministers as their leaders.
“Now that you have been fully ordained as ministers of the church, there will be no longer excuse for you to go contrary to the virtues of the church, and the leadership will not hesitate to heed to the call and protests by your congregations to sack you,” he warned.
Rev. Brobbey declared, “Some of you have been pardoned before when you had only been commissioned for having misconducted yourselves to the displeasure of your church members, but now that you are full-fledged ordained priests, you have to strictly follow the rules and regulations that govern the church’s activities or else you will be sacked.”
Rev. Brobbey gave the caution at the opening of the 43rd Presbytery meeting in Sunyani during which some newly commissioned, newly ordained and newly transferred ministers as well as new presbyters, new catechists and other personalities of the church, were presented to the presbytery.
He stated that as ministers of the church, they would be judged by the prompt and adequate payment of assessment to the General Assembly of the church.
Rev. Brobbey stated that although some of the ministers organised periodic crusades, revivals and healing which brought money to their respective churches, they failed to account for those monies to the General Assembly.
He reminded the ministers that since they were paid from the coffers of the General Assembly, they had financial obligations to the leadership of the church, adding that some of the ministers were only interested in projects being undertaken by their respective churches.
He said as presbyters, everyone had a crucial role to play in the general uplift of the church, stressing that the PCG believed in democracy.
According to Rev. Brobbey, all other members of the PCG had a unique role to play in the progress of the church, and that whoever misbehaved or misconducted himself or herself had a direct bearing on the church since the media would not spare them.
The Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, stated that mission schools were basically established to inculcate the values of the various churches in children but observed that the children rather came out of those schools worse off, thereby eroding the purpose of the missionaries.
He, however, stated that with the assistance of the church, the government would find solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the country, especially unemployment of the youth.

ZOOMLION TAKES OVER REFUSE DISPOSAL SITES IN BA (PAGE 40)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional Office of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a waste management company has taken over the management of the final refuse disposal sites of the two municipal and 20 district assemblies in the region to make it more efficient and scientific.
Even though the company was yet to finalise negotiations with the various assemblies, work has already begun at the Adomako final refuse disposal site of the Sunyani Municipal Assembly.
The Regional Operations Supervisor of the Zoomlion, Mr Benjamin Ason and the Landfill Supervisor, Mr Eric Adjei Frimpong, have conducted the Daily Graphic round the site to observe the progress of work.
The assembly’s final refuse disposal site lies some few metres away from the hostel of the Sunyani Polytechnic hostel, that was recently constructed with funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).
After clearing the mess, “We shall disinfect the area as we have done about four times before,” Mr Ason said, adding, “We are embarking on the programme in a more appropriate and scientific way with our newly acquired equipment for the job”.
Briefing the Daily Graphic, Messrs Ason and Frimpong stated that the final refuse disposal sites of the various assemblies, formed a critical part of the management of waste in those areas by the company.
They said what was actually involved in the current operation at the site, was to push and level the refuse with bulldozers to create more space for the company’s trucks to move in to dump the waste.
Asked about the state of the stream which lies below the heaps, the two officials stated that, “The stream is not safe and that is why we are trying to prevent the leachate from entering and pollute it”.
The Daily Graphic observed that owing to the past mismanagement of the site, drivers of the refuse trucks decided to dump whatever they carried anywhere near the actual place and that had nearly caused the blockade of the road but the officials gave the assurance that, “In 10 days time, we shall make the place well organised”.
They said in the long-term, the company had recommended to the assembly to look for another area for the final disposal of refuse to avoid the possible pollution of the stream and the contraction of diseases by the residents in their neighbourhood.

NEWMOUNT SETS UP GENDER MAINSTREAMING PROGRAMME (PAGE 40)

NEWMONT Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL), operating the Ahafo mine site in the Brong Ahafo Region, has established a gender mainstreaming programme that seeks to encourage women to assume greater responsibility within the mine and amongst the host communities of the company.
Through the programme, female staff at the mine site have out of their own initiative, established a revolving fund to support themselves in business.
A minimum of GH¢100 has so far been disbursed to 10 women.
The Community Development Superintendent of Newmont Ahafo Mine, Mr Joseph Danso disclosed this at a durbar to mark the Tano North District celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day at Yamfo.
The theme for the celebration was: “Men and women united to end violence against women and children”.
“NGGL will through the programme continue to empower and encourage women in our local communities to be a cardinal part of decision-making at all levels, so that we can collectively carry out the much needed socio-economic development of our communities”, Mr Danso stated.
He said under the programme, NGGL had been partnering with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Regional Office of the National Commission on Women and Development (NCWD) in most of their activities.
A Deputy Director at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Juliana Amponsah catalogued a number of legislations that had been promulgated to protect women and children.

NPP ACTIVIST URGES NDC TO RESTRAIN MEMBERS (PAGE 14)

An activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asunafo South Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Stephen Atta, aka Wofa Atta or Nana Atta, has called on the National Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to restrain supporters of the party in the constituency from attacking members of the NPP following the NDC’s victory in last year’s December general election.
Mr Atta particularly urged the NDC executive to call to order the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, whom he alleged had been masterminding the attacks on supporters of the NPP in the constituency, especially after he had visited the town following his successful vetting at the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.        
However, in a quick rebuttal, when contacted, Mr Eric Opoku vehemently denied any involvement in the incident and condemned it in the strongest term.
The NPP activist made the call following an alleged assault on him by a group of people at Sankore, whom he identified as being supporters of the NDC.
Mr Atta who came to the offices of the Daily Graphic in Sunyani explained that the alleged attack on him happened a couple of days after the Deputy Regional Minister visited the town when he had been sworn in, and he decided to go through the town to attend a thanksgiving service.
Narrating the incident, the NPP activist, who is also the Chairman of the Asunafo South Area Council and a farmer, further alleged that he was on his way from his sick brother’s house on a motorbike at about 6.00 p.m. when he met a group of NDC supporters led by one Mr Kwasi Kotodwe, and that as he was about to pass by them Mr Kotodwe made an attempt to strike him while he repeatedly said, “you foolish Nana Atta”.
According to Mr Atta, he then parked the motorbike and the leader of the group allegedly continued that, “we came for you, we are looking for you to beat you because we have been directed by your nephew to come and teach you a lesson”.
He indicated that when he inquired about who that nephew was Mr Kotodwe mentioned the Deputy Regional Minister as the one who had given the directive, alleging that while they engaged in verbal exchanges, Mr Kotodwe drew a sharp knife from a long pair of shorts he was wearing and threatened to stab him, while the others surrounding him.
The NPP activist indicated that he boldly moved forward and asked that he carried through his threat but Mr Kotodwe retreated with the knife he had firmly held in his hand, adding that he then heard a voice nearby, advising him not to get closer to Kotodwe or else he would stab him.
According to Mr Atta, as he made attempts to snatch the knife from Kotodwe, one member of the group by name Kofi Atta slapped him from behind and that as he turned to confront him, all the others pounced on him and beat him mercilessly before leaving him to his fate.
He mentioned those involved in the alleged assault as Malik, Salia and Kwabena Ananta, apart from Kotodwe and Atta Kofi, and that he later managed to make a report to the Sankore Police who gave him a medical form for treatment at the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Hwediem, where he spent the night under observation.
The deputy regional minister expressed shock at the incident, saying that he had himself asked the police to conduct investigations into the matter and that whoever was found culpable would face the law to serve as a deterrent.
He stressed that being his uncle, he bore Wofa Atta no grudge, and that it was only political ideology that separated them, adding further that during the thanksgiving service he had called for calm as he spoke to the whole congregation.
“I can’t seek refuge in politics and ask people to engage in criminal activities. I have got my job and I need to concentrate on it instead of fanning and secretly formenting trouble in the area because after all if I should lose my job, I will go back home to my own people”, Mr Opoku pointed out.
All attempts to get the Sankore police on phone about the incident was unsuccessful.

COLLINS DAUDA WINS ASUTIFI SOUT SEAT (PAGE 3)

THE electoral stand-off in the Asutifi South Constituency parliamentary election was finally put to rest on Good Friday when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Alhaji Collins Dauda, was declared winner by the slimmest of margins.
With the re-collation of the results by the Brong Ahafo Regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC), Alhaji Dauda won by 14 votes.
He polled 10,984 votes, against 10,970 votes by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Mr Yiadom Boakye-Boateng, and 78 votes by Mr George Okyere of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
Alhaji Dauda, who was the sitting Member of Parliamentary (MP) and currently the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has, therefore, been declared the winner of the December 7, 2008 parliamentary election by the EC.
The re-collation of the results followed a unanimous Supreme Court ruling last Wednesday that the Sunyani High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Francis Opoku, had no jurisdiction to hear an electoral petition filed by Mr Boakye-Boateng at the court in connection with the Asutifi South Constituency parliamentary election.
As early as 7 a.m. a sizeable number of supporters of the NDC from the Asutifi Constituency had gathered at the precincts of the EC office in Sunyani to witness the re-collation process, amidst singing, dancing and chanting.
There were a number of policemen, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Martin Dafeamekpor, to prevent any unlawful behaviour.
Representatives of the NDC, excluding Alhaji Dauda himself, and those of the NPP, including Mr Boakye-Boateng, participated in the process, which ended about 11.30 a.m. without any disturbance.
Supporters of the NPP were conspicuously absent.
Mr Boakye-Boateng filed the motion at the High Court on December 19, 2008, saying, “Please take notice that Messrs Asomah-Cheremeh and Co, counsel for and on behalf of the petitioner/applicant herein, will move this honourable court for an order restraining the EC and the Asutifi District Electoral Officer herein from declaring the parliamentary election held in the Asutifi South constituency on the seventh day of December, 2008 as upon the grounds set out in the accompanying affidavit and for such further order (s) as the honourable court may deem fit to make.”
Subsequent to the motion, Mr Boakye-Boateng observed that the parliamentary election in the Asutifi Constituency had been characterised by some corrupt practices and, therefore, prayed the court to investigate.
However, counsel for the respondents argued that the petition had not been properly brought before the court because the applicant did not wait for 21 days after the declaration, publication and gazetting of the parliamentary results as required by law before doing so.
They, therefore, described the petition as premature and further urged the court not to entertain the action by the applicant but dismiss it in its entirety, describing the amendment to the original motion as an after-thought which should also be struck out by the court.
On December 22, 2008, however, the court overruled the preliminary objection raised by the respondents and fixed January 19, 2009 for the actual commencement of the case, in agreement with counsel for the plaintiff and the respondents.
When the case was called on January 19, 2008, the court adjourned sine die (indefinitely), following a notice received by the presiding judge to the effect that the EC had filed an appeal against his earlier ruling in the case.
Later on January 30, 2009, Mr Justice Opoku upheld the petition filed by the NPP candidate, saying it had been properly laid before him and indicated that a critical scrutiny of Section 20 (1) of the Representation of the People’s Law, 1992, empowered the High Court to declare the election of a candidate void if it was satisfied that there had been non-compliance with any provision of the law and regulations made under the law.
However, the Supreme Court unanimously overruled the High Court’s decision, thereby paving the way for the re-collation and declaration of the results.

CAPITAL RURAL BANK AGEM HELD (GRAPHIC NSEMPA, PAGE 15)

By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Sunyani.

THE year 2008 was a very difficult one in the operations of Capital Rural Bank Limited, a private establishment with its headquarters at Abesim, near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The net profit position of the bank decreased from GH¢166,077 in 2007 to GH¢ 102,286 in 2008, which showed a decline of 36 per cent as against the growth of 24 per cent in 2007.
The management of the bank, however fought very hard to steer affairs towards a successful period of financial transactions and managed to also raise investments in 2008 to GH¢452,978 from GH¢466,695 in 2007, representing an increase of 18 per cent.
The board of directors also proposed a 4Gp per share in respect of the 2008 financial year for approval by the shareholders and promised to raise it in the subsequent year.
Dr E. Yaw Peprah-Agyemang, the Chairman of the Board, who made this statement at the 4th annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank, indicated that shareholders funds also increased from GH¢293,235 in 2007 to GH¢363,064 in 2008, while total income jumped from GH¢568,234 in 2007 to GH¢670,685 in 2008.
He further disclosed that, total deposits of the bank, amounted to GH¢2,273,765 as against GH¢1,401,970 recorded in 2007, indicating an increase of 62 per cent, which was above the 49 per cent growth in 2007, and total credits went up from GH¢1,527,713 in 2007 to GH¢1,872,536, which reflected an increase of 23 per cent, less than the 56 per cent success chalked in the previous year.
According to the chairman, the bank had come a long way from its humble beginnings and could now boast of an asset base of about GH¢3million under the management in three customer friendly, air- conditioned and fully computerised offices at Abesim, near Sunyani.
He announced that, the bank had more than met the new minimum capital requirement of GH¢150,000, without which a bank could neither pay dividends nor open new agencies. He explianed that although the bank was one of the youngest rural banks in Ghana, it was one of the few rural banks in the country to have met that requirement.
Dr Peprah-Agyemang indicated that, the bank intended to implement a five-year strategic plan from 2009-2013, that aims at radically expanding the fortunes of customers and shareholders.
He explained that the plan envisaged a near ten-fold growth of deposits and assets by the end of 2013 and that it was planned to raise stated capital and shareholder funds to GH¢500,000 and GH¢3,000,000 respectively, the results which were expected to be achieved through the addition of several agencies and substantial growth in the size of operations at all offices.
The Board Chairman pointed out that, much as the bank was capable of contributing towards uplifting people within its operational area, and Ghana as a whole, it was imperative that all shareholders fulfilled their part of the bargain so that the bank could become an asset for all.
“I am, therefore, using this opportunity to appeal politely and respectfully to our recalcitrant debtors, to make the necessary arrangements towards meeting their unfulfilled debt repayment obligations, by April 30, 2009 or face unpleasant consequences,” he stated.
He emphasised that the board together with the management and staff of the bank would continue to make the best efforts to ensure that the bank became the more efficient and effective so as to produce enduring and meaningful impacts in the lives of the people in its catchment area.
To achieve this objective, Dr Peprah-Agyemang said the bank would intensify the education of its cherished customers to make them more knowledgeable and productive, adding, “Our customer training programmes shall focus on the areas of business and financial management, as well as the development of long-term saving culture.”
Accordingly, the chairman indicated that, the bank would commit more resources to improve education and publicity on savings for and by children (Capital Education Accounts) as well as pension savings for people in the informal sector (Capital Pension Accounts) which he said, would assist customers to plan and manage their finances better for now and the future, thereby, ensuring a lasting, mutually beneficial relationship with the bank.
Dr Peprah-Agyemang pointed out that, the bank had continued with the implementation of its scholarship scheme for needy brilliant children and deserving students for the pursuit of tertiary educational programmes, which he said, four students in public universities, had enjoyed for the past two years.
For the 2009/10 academic year, the board chairman intimated that, three scholarships worth GH¢1,000 each would be offered and that it was opened to children and wards of all shareholders and customers of the bank who were not above 25 years of age.

BE SENSITIVE TO ENVIRONMENT (PAGE 51)

THE Catholic Bishop of the Goaso Diocese, Most Reverend Peter Kwaku Atuahene, has advised teachers to be sensitive to the environment and help protect it from destruction.
He expressed concern about the indiscriminate dumping of refuse and, therefore, urged teachers to inculcate in their children the habit of keeping their environment clean.
Most Rev. Atuahene gave the advice when he addressed the graduation ceremony of the St Joseph’s College of Education (JOSCO) at Bechem in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The ceremony, on the theme: "Quality teachers for quality education in Ghana", coincided with the 61st Joseph’s Day celebration of the Catholic Church.
In all, about 241 students were presented with diploma certificates.
Most Rev. Atuahene urged the graduantes to accept posting to rural areas and help the less fortunate children in the society to develop their God-given talents.
"In doing so, you must work within the framework of national priorities set by the Ministry of Education and Science", he stated.
Bishop Atuahene stated that the graduation ceremony marked the end of one level of their education but ushered them to another, which he described as "The school of life", explaining that that level of education took a lifetime to complete.
He emphasised that in order to be good students of the school of life, they needed God as their companion and mentor, adding that "Life has a lot to teach you and your success or failures will depend on your faith in him".
The bishop, however, urged the government to make the teaching profession more attractive by providing incentives, especially to teachers working in deprived areas.
The Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University College at Fiapre, near Sunyani, Professor James H. Ephraim, observed that quality education was needed by every country seeking to develop the quality of life of her citizens.
He said quality education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individuals, adapted to their ability, sex and natural cultural traditions, and should be conducive to fraternal relations with other nations, in order to promote true unity and peace in the world.
The Principal of the college, Mr C.D.B. Mensah, in his report, stated that the college that started with 24 students in 1948, currently had a student population of 814 comprising of 217 females and 597 males.
He said in addition to the regular students, the college was training 700 untrained teachers and also offering a course for 742 Certificate "A" Teachers preparing for the diploma in basic education by the distance and sandwich programmes.
Two former students of the college, Sir Knight Fosuaba Mensah Banahene, the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETund),and Mr Peter Atta Bimpeh, a business executive, were honoured for their distinguished contributions towards the growth of their alma mater.

WENCHI METHODIST HOSPITAL CRIES FOR HELP (PAGE 51)

The Methodist Hospital at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region was established in 1955 through the joint efforts by the chiefs and people of the town, under the auspices of Reverend John Dixon, who was the then Superintendent Minister of the Wenchi Methodist Church.
The facility started as a dressing station in a small apartment at the current vicinity of the Wenchi Police Station.
The hospital was established due to lack of transport to convey sick people to Sunyani where there was medical facility.
The people’s burning desire for a hospital compelled them to convert a block at the Methodist school into a ward.
The Wenchi Methodist Mission Hospital, which is situated on a total land area of one square mile, is a referral centre serving 18 other health facilities, including clinics, health centres, health posts at Subinso, Nchiraa, Banda, Nsawkaw and Badu, among other communities.
Some health posts in the southern part of the Northern Region also refer cases to the hospital while some traditional birth attendants (TBAs) also do same. The hospital also refers serious cases it cannot handle to the Regional Hospital in Sunyani, which is a distance of about 80 kilometres away.
It is the vision of the authorities at the hospital to make the facility a Christian medical centre of excellence,. The hospital’s avowed mission is to provide holistic and accessible health care services in an efficient, effective and client sensitive manner with qualified and motivated staff within Christian principles and government policies with other stakeholders.
As a 100-bed referral hospital, the facility can pride itself of departments or units such as out-patients and in-patients departments, female, male, children, maternity and isolation wards as well as an emergency room, public health unit and an eye clinic.
The hospital also has a theatre, a laboratory, pharmacy and an X-ray department as well as a magnificent mortuary and refrigeration equipment offering efficient cold storage for the preservation of dead bodies and post-mortem examination.
According to the records at the OPD, last year, attendance at the facility was 47,839 compared with 33,592 in 2007.
The figures have been rising steadily over the years as a result of the successful implementation of the district-wide Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) introduced by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
The hospital has a total staff of 156, 91 of which are mechanised unto the government payroll, 45 non-mechanised, who are paid locally by the institution and 21 seconded from the Ghana Health Service.
At the moment, there are two Ghanaian medical doctors, a medical assistant and two Cuban doctors one of who is a gynaecologist and the other general practitioner. Unfortunately, the hospital has no surgeon, thus depriving the facility of reasonable amount of money.
Despite its modest achievements, the Wenchi Methodist Hospital which is a registered member of the Christian Health Association of Ghana, has major challenges that need to be addressed by the management, the parent church, philanthropists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Wenchi citizens of goodwill, both residents and non-residents as well as other stakeholders.
At present, the hospital has an imbalance ratio of 55 trained nurses (professionals) to 54 untrained ones (ward assistants or auxiliary staff). The development does not augur well for the delivery of quality health care that the authorities are desirous to provide for the numerous clients of the facility.
One major area of concern is lack of adequate and decent residential accommodation for staff currently at post as well as those who have expressed their willingness immediately they complete their training programmes.
In an interview with this writer, the Hospital Administrator, Mr B.C.K. Botwe, stressed the urgent need for the construction of 20 new residential houses within the next three years to accommodate the ever increasing staff of the facility. He estimated the cost per one "duplex" house as $28,000.
Mr Botwe stated that the current Dixon Staff Village comprising 16 units, was established with support from expatriate friends of the hospital, namely, Dr Jam Beltman, Miss Elly Mewsbrock and a group of medical students from the University of Cork, Ireland, led by a surgeon by name Noonan.
The hospital administrator led the Daily Graphic to inspect an almost completed beautiful bungalow for doctors, estimated at GH¢200,000.
The project is being financed from the hospital’s internally generated funds. Another ongoing project at the hospital is a six-unit staff quarters and an obstetric theatre for emergency relief, being undertaken by the Wenchi Municipal Assembly with funding from the Social Investment Fund (SIF).
Mr Botwe appealed for more residential accommodation for students on practical attachment from the Techiman, Asante-Mampong, Berekum, Offinso, Sunyani, Tanoso and Kintampo health training institutions as well as individual student nurses who come to the facility for attachment programmes.
The hospital administrator appealed for some equipment to enhance service delivery, particularly an automated haematology analyser, clinical chemistry analyser and a centrifuge to cater for the ever-increasing number of clients currently using the facility.
He stated that those equipment had become imperative because the hospital laboratory had been designated a "sentinel site for the testing of HIV/AIDS".
Mr Botwe added that huge sums of money was also needed to rehabilitate the entire hospital and to expand the maternity ward which is estimated at $37,000 to enable it to provide 24-hour service.
He expressed worry about the delay of work on a new OPD and a casualty block with offices and other facilities being undertaken by Kintampo-based Korigu Construction Company Limited.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the managing director of the construction firm, Alhaji Issifu Fuseini, he gave the assurance that the company would expedite action on the project to ensure its early completion.
Currently, the hospital authorities have raised a canopy as an extension of the OPD to cope with the increasing number of patients who patronise the facility daily.
The hospital administrator called for the upgrading of all the facilities at the hospital in view of the high number of clients as result of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the free medical care for pregnant women and their deliveries.
He added that the hospital also needed a durable vehicle to facilitate its outreach programmes such as children’s immunisation as well as ante-natal and post-natal services for mothers.
Another critical challenge has been the dust pollution at the hospital premises because of the rough road stretching from a junction at Wenchi, passing in front of the hospital.
It is envisaged that the head of the Methodist Church of Ghana, who is the Presiding Bishop, Most Reverend Robert Kwasi Aboagye-Mensah, and his able lieutenants would marshall essential resources to put the Wenchi Hospital in good shape as a priority before thinking of building an entirely new hospital anywhere in the country.

DUAYAW NKWANTA GETS MORTUARY (BACK PAGE)

WORK on a GH¢240,000 mortuary facility at the St John of God Hospital (SJGH) at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Brong Ahafo Region has been completed.
The SJGH, which was originally established as a maternity home in 1955, is providing general health care and specialised orthopaedic and physiotherapy services for the people of the Brong Ahafo Region, as well as clients from the three northern regions.
It is under the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS).
The project, which took 11 months to complete, was executed by Messrs Joekona Company Limited, a Sunyani-based general construction firm, and financed through the hospital’s internally generated funds (IGFs), while the Ministry of Health provided the fridges.
Inaugurating the facility at a ceremony at Duayaw Nkwanta, the Medical Director of the SJGH, Dr Prosper A.K. Moh, said the hospital was in the process of being accredited as a training centre for Orthopaedic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Dr Moh, who is an orthopaedic specialist, indicated that the move was a collaboration between the University of Maastricht in The Netherlands and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
He described the project as the single most expensive in the history of the hospital financed through IGFs and commended the entire staff and the management for its successful completion.
The Hospital Administrator, Sister Comfort Apedzi, said the SJGH had grown over the years as an institution under the NCHS with the mission of providing high quality health care in the most effective, efficient and innovative manner and in acknowledgement of the dignity of the patient.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Aaron Offei, said the project involved a heavy capital outlay and, therefore, urged the management to recruit capable hands to man it in order to prolong its lifespan and also generate more revenue for the management to finance other development projects at the hospital.
The Tano North District Co-ordinating Director, Mr J. Adu-Koranteng, said the construction and inauguration of the morgue was a step in the right direction, since it was going to raise higher the status of the hospital as one of the best resourced health facilities in the region in particular and the country as a whole.