Pusgu-namongo: A seven-member implementation committee has been inaugurated to oversee the construction and operationalisation of the St Raphael Medical Centre at Pusgu-Namongo in the Talensi District. The ultramodern medical facility is part of the intervention by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO) with funding from the Hungarian Government through Hungary Helps to improve healthcare in Northern Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project is envisioned to deliver specialised health services to communities within the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, which comprises the Upper East and North East Regions and beyond. The committee comprises Dr Wilfred Akapanga as Chairperson, Dr Joseph Ayembilla as Consultant, Reverend Father Joseph Tabase, Diocesan Financial Administrator, and Mr Ayedzi Delanyon Khiki, Regional Biomedical Engineer, Ghana Health Service. The rest are Mr Peter Alnaa, Project Managing Engineer; Mr Roland Abangiba, Secretary and Diocesan Health Service Trust Representative; and Mr Dominic Ayaaba, Diocesan Lands and Estates Committee Representative.
The Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Bishop of the Diocese, who inaugurated the committee, expressed appreciation to the Government of Hungary and Hungary Helps for the funding support and commended the efforts of NABOCADO in bringing the vision of the Centre to life. 'This project is not just about infrastructure,' he noted. 'It is about continuing the healing ministry of Christ. I urge the committee to be mindful of the financial sustainability of the project. Although the Church is not a profit-making institution, we need resources to fulfil our mission.' He emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration to ensure the timely execution of the project, adding that such an attitude would help attract potential donors.
Mr Daniel Damka, Chairperson of both the Diocesan Finance Council and the Diocesan Business and Investment Board, noted that the idea for the Centre was conceived in 2019 as a response to the growing need for quality healthcare services in the region. He underscored the critical role of the committee in sustaining the project, which promises to deliver a new era of medical care to save lives and improve well-being across northern Ghana.
Accepting the mandate on behalf of the committee, Dr Wilfred Akapanga thanked the bishop for the confidence reposed in them and pledged their collective commitment to the successful implementation of the project. 'Many of us have personal connections to the Church, and we see this task as both a responsibility and a calling,' he said. He called for collaboration and support from the broader Church and community to help realise the project's objectives.
Once completed, the St Raphael Medical Centre, located just five kilometres from Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, will offer a wide range of advanced health services. These include outpatient care, short-term hospital stays, laboratory and diagnostic services such as ultrasound, CT scans, MRI, X-ray, endoscopy, mammography, maternal and child healthcare, paediatric care, and gerontology. The inauguration of the Project Implementation Committee represents a milestone in the Diocese's long-term vision to make quality healthcare accessible while aligning with its mission of service, compassion, and evangelisation.
