Tarkwa: AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine on Thursday commissioned and handed over a $1.1 million, 60-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital to improve care for critically ill and premature babies in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality and nearby districts.
According to Ghana Web, the commissioning ceremony, held on July 30, 2026, was themed 'Strengthening Newborn Care Through Sustainable Partnerships.' Speaking at the event, Daniel Boadi, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, highlighted the hospital's previous struggle to provide adequate care for an average of 80 critically ill and premature babies each month in a single, overcrowded makeshift room. Boadi emphasized that the new facility was constructed to address this challenge, stating, "The clinical expertise was present, but the infrastructure was missing."
The newly commissioned unit includes specialized newborn and premature care wards, a NICU clinic, Kangaroo Mother Care wards, a Mother's Lodge, milk expression facilities, an in-house pharmacy, and infection prevention systems. Boadi noted that the NICU is part of the mine's broader investment in healthcare within its host communities.
Boadi also referenced other healthcare initiatives by the mine, including the refurbishment of the 20-bed Communicable Diseases Unit at Apinto Hospital, the construction of community health centers and staff accommodation in various locations, the donation of health monitoring vehicles, the expansion of a malaria control program, and cervical and breast cancer screening programs. Additionally, he mentioned plans to support the refurbishment of the Intensive Care Unit at Takoradi Hospital before the end of the year.
Boadi highlighted the national recognition that the mine's community health programs have received, such as the Mining Company of the Year at the 2024 and 2025 Ghana Mining Industry Awards, Best CSR Company at the Ghana Club 100 Awards, and a special award at the Ghana Health Service Excellence Awards. He appealed to the management of the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital and community members to protect the new facility and use it responsibly to ensure its continued service to newborns and their families for years to come.