Western Regional Minister Appeals to Mining Firms for ICU Project Support

By Emmanuel Gamson, GNA Sekondi (W/R), Jan. 19, GNA – Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, has sought the support of large-scale mining companies, to help establish the region’s first Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Takoradi Hospital. With a population of over two million people, the Western Region faces a critical healthcare gap, as it has no ICU to deliver critical healthcare services in the region. Data from the Regional Health Directorate revealed that about 1,105 health emergency cases, and 39 referrals of critically ill patients were recorded in 2025. In response to the challenge, the Western Regional Minister last year, launched a GHS 3 million-project to establish the region’s first ICU within the Takoradi Hospital, to ensure that critical health issues were managed in the region and reduce referrals to such Units in other regions. Mr Nelson, at a meeting to seek funding support from mining companies operating within the region, stressed on the importance of the facility and the need for their financial support, noting that the nearest ICU was located in the Central Region which had its own challenges upon referrals. He said: “ The ICU is a very important project, because as we say ‘health is wealth,’ and without a good healthcare delivery system, we cannot proudly say the best comes from the West.” He appealed to the companies to come together and donate to support this worthy initiative to help boost healthcare infrastructure in the region. Participants at the meeting took turns to praise Mr Nelson for the decisive move to establish the intensive care unit, and pledged to support the project. They said it was a project worth supporting, and promised to work towards getting it done very quickly because it was very important for the region. GNA Edited by Justina Paaga / Christabel Addo