Mahama orders demolition of old Korle Bu maternity block, describes facility as ‘death trap’

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the demolition of the ageing Gordon-Guggisberg maternity block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, describing the facility as a “death trap” that poses serious risks to mothers, newborns and health workers.

The President said government has commenced the procurement process for the construction of a modern maternity block to replace the deteriorating structure as part of efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery in the country.

He made the announcement on Thursday, July 9, 2026, while commissioning the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Addressing the gathering, President Mahama said the replacement of the old maternity block was necessary due to its poor condition and the danger it presents to patients and medical personnel.

“We’re going through the procurement process to build a new maternity block for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.”

He added that the existing Gordon-Guggisberg building had deteriorated significantly and could no longer provide a safe environment for maternal healthcare.

“We will pull down the old Gordon-Guggisberg building that has today become a death trap. Every other day, our mothers give birth in that building. It is a death trap that can cause devastation.”

The President also explained that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, had expanded its mandate beyond financing medical treatment after government identified gaps in healthcare infrastructure and specialist services.

According to him, supporting patients financially alone was insufficient if adequate facilities, equipment and trained personnel were unavailable to provide the required care.

“It is not only about financing diagnosis and care. Even when you accepted to finance a patient, there was no facility available in the vicinity where the patient was to be able to be diagnosed and cared for the patient.”

He said the Trust Fund would now support the construction and improvement of specialist healthcare facilities, procurement and maintenance of medical equipment, and the training of specialist healthcare professionals, in addition to financing diagnosis and treatment.

“It's expanded the mandate of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, not only to fund diagnosis and treatment for patients, but also to provide the facilities for such treatment to take place. And then also to ensure that there are skilled personnel to be able to provide diagnosis and care for these patients.”

President Mahama further disclosed that Cabinet had approved the recruitment and training of 500 critical care nurses, with the first phase of the programme already underway at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital before it is extended to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

He also announced the establishment of Ghana Medical Equipment Services Limited, a subsidiary of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, to oversee the maintenance, servicing and replacement of specialised medical equipment in public health facilities.

The President said previous investments in medical equipment had often failed to deliver long-term benefits because of inadequate maintenance systems.

“We found out that most of that equipment was not properly maintained and had broken down and the hospitals were calling on governments again to do another retooling or replace the equipment. It is not a sustainable model.”

He explained that the new system would involve the recruitment of biomedical engineers to ensure that medical equipment remains functional and that obsolete machines are replaced in a timely manner.

“We believe that this will be a more sustainable model so that the investment the Ghanaian people are putting in will not just go to waste like it has done in the past.”

The President reaffirmed government’s commitment to expanding health infrastructure and improving access to quality specialist healthcare nationwide.

“Let history record that this generation chose to invest not only in roads, bridges and buildings, but also in the health, dignity and future of our people.”

The commissioning of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory is expected to enhance Ghana’s capacity to diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular and neurovascular conditions while expanding specialist cardiac services at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.