The President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, has commissioned a state-of-the-art office complex for the Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry.
The building, christened ‘The Melody’, is named after Squadron Leader Melody M. M. Danquah, Sub Saharan Africa’s first female pilot and the mother of a former head of the Department, Professor Angela Ofori-Atta.
Addressing the gathering, the President expressed his joy and commended the donors for putting up a magnificent facility.
“I am happy to be here for the commissioning of the new Psychiatry building. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who made the construction of the building a reality”, he noted.
H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa said he recognised the challenges facing the health sector and assured the Hospital of the government’s pledge to improve health care.
He noted that government had increased funding for mental health by over 200 per cent and committed to build mental health centres across the country.
He also disclosed that the passing of the Mental Health law and decriminalising suicide, were all in an effort to address some of the challenges in the health sector, especially mental healthcare face.
The Chief Executive of the Hospital, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, in his welcome address encouraged staff to be proud of Korle Bu’s achievements as the preferred choice for psychiatry treatment.
“Our Psychiatry Department has been the preferred choice for psychiatry treatment. Let us cherish this moment as we embark on changing the narrative of mental health in Ghana.
Dr. Ampomah noted that the building will draw attention to psychiatry, which has become a neglected discipline, adding that ‘mental health is however not a respecter of social status’.
He also hinted on the hospital’s upcoming 100th birthday celebrations and called on everyone to be part of the celebrations.
The Board Chairman of the Hospital, Dr. David Nkansa Dwamena was grateful to the President for his interest in expanding the frontiers of quality health care in the country in general and Korle Bu in particular.
Present at the ceremony was the Health Minister, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, who noted that the new structure will go a long way to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Mr. Agyeman Manu said it was important for everyone to collectively work to address the issue of mentally challenged individuals in our society, adding, “the Mental Health Authority has played a crucial role in strengthening mental health in Ghana”.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo in her address noted that the structure will help reduce the burden of people suffering from psychiatric issues.
‘I am informed the building is fitted with modern equipment in a serene environment to promote the dignity of its patients and reduce stigma. The building is also disability-friendly’, Prof. Appiah Amfo noted.
The Vice Chancellor was hopeful the building will embody technology and humanism and will be an environment where patients and staff are respected.
She congratulated the Board of Trustees and the unwavering determination of Professor Angela Ofori-Atta for making the office complex a reality.
Narrating a background to the building and the Department of Psychiatry, Prof. Angela Ofori Atta said the idea for an office complex had been conceived over 20years ago.
She said the Department had also come a long way, from when they were located at the University of Ghana campus and rendered at the Accra Psychiatry Hospital. She said later in 2013 the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital gave the Department space to enable them to train students and care for patients.
She was grateful for how far the Department had come and was hopeful the building and the story behind it will be a source of hope for staff and patients alike.
The new office building has treatment rooms, consulting rooms, observation rooms, a waiting area, a pharmacy, lecture hall and conference room.
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