The Council of Bono and Ahafo Association of North America (COBAANA) on Wednesday performed a sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of an ultra-modern dialysis and medical centre in Sunyani, marking a major step toward improving renal healthcare delivery in Ghana’s middle belt.

The project is being spearheaded by COBAANA, the umbrella body representing Ghanaian diaspora members from the former Brong-Ahafo Region now living in the United States and Canada.

The ceremony was led by COBAANA Chairman, Dr. DeGraft Kwafo Gyan, and attended by paramount chiefs, government officials, chief imams, Members of Parliament, and other key stakeholders.

According to Dr. Kwafo Gyan, kidney disease has become one of the most silent yet devastating health challenges in Ghana.

Noting that nearly 90 percent of patients who require dialysis are unable to access treatment, largely due to financial constraints and the limited number of dialysis centres nationwide.

The initiative which involves the construction of a two-storey, multi-million-dollar dialysis and medical centre aimed at expanding access to renal care services.

However, the facility being built in Sunyani is expected to serve residents in the Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East regions, as well as neighbouring areas, and will also offer healthcare education and lifestyle sensitization programmes to help reduce the incidence of kidney disease and improve overall community health.

“This initiative deepens our commitment as diaspora members to support healthcare delivery back home and address the unbearable financial constraints faced by our people,” Dr. Kwafo Gyan said.

The dialysis and medical centre project aligns with COBAANA’s 2026 annual convention theme, “The Health of Our People Is Our Concern,” reinforcing the association’s resolve to bridge critical healthcare gaps in the Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East regions.

The project, initiated in 2023, is designed to complement government efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and capacity across the regions.

Sompaonline.com/Derrick Djan