The Rotary Club of Accra–Airport has inaugurated a newly furnished five-consulting-room facility for the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics (GICG) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to help enhance specialist care for patients living with sickle cell disease and other genetic conditions.
The project, estimated at GH¢500,000, comprises five fully equipped consulting rooms and a washroom. It was undertaken to support the institute following the renovation of its male and female wards, and to address longstanding infrastructural constraints that had limited service delivery.
For more than five decades, the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics has served as a critical referral centre, operating for 51 years and attending to an average of 50 patients daily with only three consulting rooms.
This situation often created operational challenges, particularly for patients in critical condition who had to compete for limited space and attention.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Accra, the Past District Governor, Rotarian David Osei Amankwa, said the completion of the facility was a source of pride for the club.
“This was a clear need, and we are excited that the challenge facing the clinic has now been addressed,” he said.
He noted that for more than 25 years, the Rotary Club of Accra–Airport had remained committed to improving lives and supporting institutions that played a vital role in national development.
The President of the Rotary Club of Accra–Airport, Rotarian Kojo Nunoo, reiterated that service to society remained at the heart of Rotary’s mission.
He explained that the global Rotary network, with a membership of about two million, continued to mobilise resources to respond to pressing community needs.
“Our goal is to make a lasting impact wherever there is a genuine need,” he said.
The District Governor, Rotarian Nana Yaa Siriboe, commended the club for its sustained commitment to health care, noting that caring for sickle cell patients was both demanding and continuous.
She highlighted the critical role played by the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics in patient care, research and advocacy, and praised the club for exemplifying Rotary’s motto, “Service Above
Self.” She also thanked the management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for embracing the partnership.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, expressed profound gratitude to the Rotary Club, describing the new facility as the realisation of a long-held vision.
“It looked like a dream, and now the dream has come true,” he said.
He said the inauguration marked an important milestone in the expansion of healthcare infrastructure for both patients and staff at GICG.
He added that the hospital’s partnership with the Rotary Club had resulted in several impactful interventions across different departments, including the maternity block, the children’s department and other clinical units.
The Director of the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, Dr Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma, also expressed her appreciation to the Rotary Club of Accra–Airport and all stakeholders who contributed to the project.
She described the facility as an expansion of hope for patients, especially those living with sickle cell disease.
“This facility will greatly improve how we serve our patients and train the next generation of specialists,” she said.
Dr Benneh-Akwasi Kuma paid special tribute to the Rotary Club for its life-saving interventions over the years and pledged to uphold its legacy of compassion.
She also acknowledged the architects, the highest fundraiser for the project, Caradoc Mills Lamptey (AG Cara), and all individuals whose contributions ensured the successful completion of the facility.