Accra, July 27, GNA - The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) says it has identified health and education as priority areas to impact on the lives of Ghanaians through improved health delivery and educational environment.

In pursuit of this commitment, the Corporation has approved the construction of an Accident and Emergency Centre at the Half-Assini Government Hospital, together with a fence wall at a cost of GH¢1.53Million.

This was contained in an address by Mr Alex Mould, the Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, at the sod cutting ceremony for the construction of the facilities at Half-Assini in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

In the speech read on his behalf  by Mrs Carmen Bruce-Annan, the Corporate Affairs Manager of the GNPC, Mr Mould said the project was one of many such interventions that “we are making to improve the health needs of our people”.

“An improved health delivery facility will lead to a more efficient and effective health delivery, for a healthier people for improved productivity and save lives and I must add that this is just one of many interventions that GNPC is making in the health sector”, he said.

Mr Mould said the GNPC, as the national oil company and anchor partner to all upstream petroleum operations in Ghana, was committed to ensuring that the people of Ghana obtained optimum benefits from its operations.
“GNPC’s social investments in the Western Region, and other parts of the country, are in line with the corporation’s commitment to creating shared value, with Ghanaians, he said.

Mr Mould said other health interventions undertaken by the GNPC include equipping the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Burns Centre, Korle-Bu, and a Centre of Excellence for Sickle Sickle Cell Treatment and Training at the KomfoAnokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi.

Others are the completion of the last floor of the four-storey building and acquisition of equipment for the EffiaNkwanta Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Sekondi and support for research work at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in respect of Ebola, the Ghana AIDS Commission and the Global Emerging Pathogens (GET) projects.

Mr Mould said Half-Assini was selected for assistance because “it was one of our key stakeholder communities, and contributing to improve the facility for improved productivity is a worthy course”.

“The Half-Assini Government Hospital is in close proximity to the offshore areas of our current operations.  Therefore, the ultra-modern facility, apart from improving health delivery in the country, will also contribute to saving lives in emergency situations related to our operations.

On schools infrastructure, he said the GNPC had completed a six-unit classroom block and ancillary facilities for the Half-Assini Methodist JHS, a six-unit classroom block and ancillary facilities for the NkrofulNyaneba Primary School, Ellembelle District and six-unit classroom block and ancillary facilities for the Adelekazo Primary School, Nzema East District among other projects.

There is also the completion of a six-unit classroom block and ancillary facilities for the Salvation Army Primary School, Lower Dixcove, Ahanta West; completion of an 18-unit classroom block and ancillary facilities for the Axim Girls Senior High School, Nzema East District; as well as the procurement processes and payment for the supply of furniture for the above mentioned schools.
Source :GNA