The ghana tourism authority (gta):he Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in partnership with Africa’s Brain Bank, on Monday, broke ground for the construction of a Global Medical City at Ada in the Greater Accra Region. This forms part of the Authority’s efforts to promote medical tourism and attract investment into Ghana’s healthcare sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project is expected to combine healthcare delivery, medical research, education, technology, and tourism to create an integrated medical tourism hub that will serve Ghana, Africa, and the international community. The initiative would create jobs, attract healthcare professionals and investors, and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the continent for specialized medical treatment. It also forms part of efforts to position Ghana as a destination for quality healthcare and medical tourism while retaining healthcare-related expenditure within the country.
Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTA, said the project presented an opportunity for the tourism industry to contribute to the development of Ghana’s healthcare and investment sectors. She expressed excitement about partnering with Africa’s Brain Bank to establish the Medical City, which would attract investors and position Ghana as a destination for quality healthcare and medical tourism. Madam Houadjeto highlighted the initiative’s potential to create employment, investment, and collaboration opportunities between the tourism and healthcare sectors, emphasizing the role of tourism in supporting other sectors of the economy.
Rev. Dr. Pam Fomunung, Visionary, CEO, and Group Chair of Africa’s Brain Bank, stated that the Global Medical City was conceived as a business and investment project aimed at providing high-quality healthcare while contributing to economic development. She explained that the Medical City would comprise hospitals, clinics, training institutions, research and innovation centers, digital health facilities, and other businesses to create a complete healthcare ecosystem. Dr. Fomunung outlined plans for the project’s phased development, which is expected to eventually accommodate about 30 hospitals.
The Medical City will also focus on using artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and other digital technologies to connect healthcare professionals in Ghana with specialists worldwide. ‘This Medical City is also being developed as a legacy project that would serve generations to come, with buildings and facilities designed to last for more than 100 years,’ Dr. Fomunung said. She emphasized the project’s goal to make healthcare more accessible while reducing the need for Africans to travel outside the continent for medical treatment, and to prioritize patient safety by implementing an effective shift system for healthcare workers.
Dr. Michael Obeng, a Ghanaian American plastic surgeon, remarked on the significance of establishing the Medical City in Ghana, noting that many Africans travel abroad for specialized healthcare. He stated that the facility would provide highly specialized services, retaining healthcare expenditure within Africa, and highlighted its potential to operate as a quaternary healthcare center. Dr. Obeng also mentioned that Ghana has highly skilled medical professionals who could contribute to the project’s success and that the facility aims to attract specialists and researchers from around the world. He noted that approximately 3,000 acres of land had been made available for development, with the first building expected to be completed within three to five years, aiming to develop a world-class medical center comparable to leading global medical centers.