Takoradi: 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.
According to Ghana News Agency, 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 this challenge, Mr Nelson launched a GHS 3 million project last year to establish the ICU at the Takoradi Hospital, aiming to manage critical health issues locally and reduce referrals to other regions.
Mr Nelson, during a meeting to seek funding support from mining companies operating within the region, emphasized the importance of the facility and the need for financial backing, noting that the nearest ICU was located in the Central Region, which faced its own challenges upon referrals. He stated, "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 collaborate and donate to this initiative to improve healthcare infrastructure in the region. Participants at the meeting praised Mr Nelson for the decisive move to establish the intensive care unit and pledged their support for the project. They acknowledged the project's significance and promised to expedite their efforts to ensure its completion, recognizing its critical importance for the region.