President Mahama commissions new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Korle Bu
A new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory has been commissioned at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, replacing the facility destroyed by fire in March 2025.
President John Dramani Mahama commissioned the facility, describing it as an act of restoration, renewal and progress for Ghana’s healthcare system.
He recalled that one of his final duties before leaving office in 2017 was to commission the original cardiac catheterization laboratory at the same hospital, following concerns about the absence of such a facility at Ghana’s premier teaching hospital.
He said that for almost a decade, the facility transformed cardiovascular care in the country and enabled thousands of patients to receive life-saving procedures without travelling abroad, until the fire disrupted services, increased pressure on healthcare workers and placed additional burdens on patients and their families.
“Today, however, we are not merely replacing what was lost; we are building something better.
“The setback would not define the country’s future but would instead inspire it to rebuild stronger, smarter and better.” President Mahama said.
He said the advanced technology installed at the facility would improve Ghana’s ability to diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, structural heart disease and peripheral vascular diseases.
He added that the facility would also strengthen the country’s capacity to provide timely neurovascular interventions for stroke patients, noting that every minute mattered in determining whether a patient made a full recovery or suffered permanent disability.
“Every successful procedure carried out here represents more than a medical achievement. It represents a patient returning home, a worker returning to productivity and a Ghanaian receiving another opportunity at life,” he said.
President Mahama said the facility formed part of a broader national strategy to strengthen specialised healthcare delivery across the country.
Through the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, he said government was establishing cardiology centres at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital to bring cardiovascular care closer to millions of Ghanaians in the Middle and Northern parts of the country.
“Similar facilities to be established at the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in Takoradi and the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region.
“Healthcare must never depend on geographical location. Every Ghanaian deserves equal access to quality specialist services,” he said.
He commended the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, biomedical engineers, laboratory scientists and technicians whose dedication made the facility’s commissioning possible, along with the Board and management of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, the Ministry of Health, the management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the National Cardiothoracic Centre, the contractor and all partners who contributed to the project.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
