NEWS RELEASE
6th May, 2025.
Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, the immediate past Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has conveyed his deepest appreciation to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and President John Dramani Mahama for the opportunity given him to serve the country.
He noted that his ascension to the coveted position of CEO of KATH and his successful tenure could not have been possible without the endorsement, support and the chance accorded him by the Asantehene and the former and current Presidents to serve in that role.
Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah
In a statement released in Kumasi today, Prof. Addai-Mensah, who was given a standing ovation yesterday during his last meeting with staff members, cited the historic intervention of the Asantehene in the comprehensive renovation of the old blocks under the Asantehene’s Heal Komfo Anokye Project as an example of the critical support he received from the Manhyia Palace.
He also singled out Hon. Francis Assenso Boakye, Member of Parliament for Bantama for the facilitating role he played in his appointment.
“My time as the head of the management team of the second largest tertiary hospital in Ghana has been one of the most defining moments in my life and I am most grateful to all those through whom I was given the opportunity and support to serve in that capacity”, the statement noted.
Details:
The statement continued “I am also indebted to the management, staff and other partners whose sacrifices, encouragement and prayers were pivotal in helping to reposition the hospital as a leading centre for tertiary healthcare, training and research during my term of office”.
Background:
Prof. Addai-Mensah assumed duty as the CEO of KATH on 1st December 2022 and served until April 2022.
His tenure witnessed a seismic shift in the operations of the hospital earning him praise from both staff and members of the public.
Through the adoption of innovative interventions including governance, operational, staff welfare and patient-centred reforms, he was able to nearly double the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) of the hospital in just two years from Ghc 115,819,364.10 in 2022 to Ghc 222,619,078.51 in 2024.
As a result of the judicious use of the improved revenues of the hospital, he was able to undertake a number of interventions including large scale retooling, upgrading of infrastructure, pro-patient and enhanced staff welfare initiatives.
Retooling and Renovation:
The Dialysis Unit of the hospital for instance saw a quantum jump in the number of machines from two in 2022 to 20 machines by the end of 2024 resulting in the remarkable expansion in access to specialist dialysis services at the hospital.
The dilapidated Main Theatre of the hospital which has five Operating Rooms also underwent a comprehensive renovations at the cost of over Ghc4.4m whiles the Physiotherapy Unit was similarly renovated at the cost of about Ghc1.6m.
Through IGF, a Ghc43m Pharmacy Complex is currently under construction at the hospital.
Staff Welfare:
He also instituted Directors’ and Deputy Directors’ weekend and holiday duty system to ensure executive presence and supervision at all times at the hospital.
Until this, there was little executive management presence at the hospital during holidays and weekends leading to weak supervision and absenteeism during such days.
He extensively used his personal network of friends, families, and other acquaintances to mobilise substantial material and financial resources valued in millions of Ghana Cedis in furtherance of hospital operations and payment of needy patients’ bills.
Examples are the donation of medical equipment such as suction machines and patient monitors by his church, the Officers’ Mess Squash Club, and the Tennis Club in Kumasi among others.
Measures:
Prof. Addai-Mensah abolished the payment of fees by patients for the use of public places of convenience at the hospital soon upon assuming office and introduced a courier service for the home delivery of refill medicines for chronic but stable patients in partnership with the Ghana Post.
This has saved stable patients who come to the hospital monthly just for their medicines from the risk of travelling from far and near for their medicines.
He enhanced staff medical package from Ghc3,000 a year per staff to Ghc4,000, the first upward review of the package in over 10 years and directed its incorporation into the hospital’s Electronic Medical Records System.
This saved staff members from having to pay upfront for medical care before applying for a refund as it used to be in the case before his assumption of office.
Innovation:
The increase in the package, and its computerization has since led to a jump in medical care benefits for staff and their immediate family members from about Ghc750,000.00 in 2022 to almost Ghc4,000,000.00 on 2024, over 500 percentage increase.
He also embarked on an aggressive drive to mobilise private sector resources for a major facelift
of the hospital.
Sponsors:
With support from Neuce Paints, Alex Nuamah Enterprise, Osons Chemists, and others the Doctors’ Flats, ENT Block, Kitchen/Canteen, Breast Centre, and Laundry Unit and Nurses blocks among others were all given facelifts to improve the general environment of the hospital.
With the approval of the immediate past Board, he oversaw the procurement of one brand new Toyota mini bus and two Mitsubishi pick-up trucks at the cost of Ghc2.6m in 2024 using IGF to help renew the aged fleet of the hospital.
This was in addition to his successful acquisition of Toyota Landcruiser from the Ministry of Health, in intervention which has helped to improve the acute transportation situation of the hospital.
There is no doubt that the tenure of Prof. Addai-Mensah as the CEO of KATH has been transformative no wonder the staff members gave him a spontaneous standing ovation during his last durbar with them on Monday.
