By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, May 12, GNA – The Ghana Red Cross Society has announced plans to establish a 100-bed International Humanitarian Hospital to strengthen emergency response capacity.
The initiative seeks to improve access to critical healthcare services for vulnerable populations across the country.
Dr Andrew Donkor, President of the Ghana Red Cross Society, disclosed this during the commemoration of World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day in Accra, held under the theme: “United in Humanity.”
He explained that the hospital would serve as a national humanitarian asset, providing emergency and disaster response, epidemic preparedness, and accessible healthcare services, particularly for underserved communities.
“These experiences have demonstrated the limitations of temporary solutions in times of crisis. Emergencies overwhelm existing health facilities, delay access to specialised care, and widen the gap between community response and medical treatment,” he said, citing incidents such as the Appiatse explosion, the Akosombo dam spillage, and outbreaks of cholera and Mpox.
Dr Donkor noted that facility would operate as a national referral hub during mass casualty incidents and provide specialised care during public health emergencies.
It would also include isolation units for epidemic response and integrate into Ghana’s national disease surveillance systems to enhance early detection and coordinated interventions.
Dr Donkor said the hospital would be guided by humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality, ensuring that no individual is denied care based on ability to pay.
He said that the hospital would function as a training and capacity-building centre for health professionals and humanitarian responders, contributing to the development of skilled personnel in emergency medicine and disaster management.
“This initiative is aligned with Ghana’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage and national disaster preparedness priorities,” he said, adding that the project would also strengthen the country’s leadership in humanitarian response within the region.
Dr Donkor called on Government, development partners, the private sector, and philanthropists to support the initiative.
“This is not a Red Cross project alone; it is a national mission that will save lives, create jobs, and strengthen resilience,” he said.
Dr Donkor reiterated the Society’s commitment to moving beyond reactive emergency response towards anticipatory action, resilience building, and long-term recovery interventions.
He stressed that sustained investment and stronger partnerships remained essential to meeting growing humanitarian needs.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
12 May 2026
Photo attached