Senyo Hosi receives national award for role in GIDC execution

Finance and Economic Policy Analyst and Entrepreneur, Senyo Hosi who was the Managing Trustee of the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund has received a national award for his contribution in the fight against COVID-19.

He is part of individuals, institutions and partners who have been awarded by the State at the National Honours and Awards 2023 for distinguishing themselves in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo decorated Mr Hosi with the award at a ceremony in Accra.

Mr Hosi spearheaded the construction the first ever 100-bed capacity Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC) for treatment and management of COVID-19 and other infectious.

Located at the Ga East Municipal Hospital at Kwabenya-Atomic, it is a private-sector-initiated and executed project funded through the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund and built by a combined military-civilian professionals, skilled and unskilled labourers.

Covid-19 Private Sector Fund targets GH¢100m

The Ghana Covid-19 Private Sector Fund set out to raise a minimum of GH¢100 million, was established by a number of private businesses drawn from diverse sectors in the country, to support government’s efforts to conquer the coronavirus pandemic.

$7.5m cost

The project, which emerged as a result of the private sector’s response to the call by President Akufo-Addo on all Ghanaians to rally support behind the government to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, was constructed within 67 days at the cost of $7.5 million.

3 leaders of the project

The GCPSF, spearheaded by national icons Messrs Hosi, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) and Managing Trustee, Edward Effah, Board Chairman of Fidelity Bank, and Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, Chairman of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited, Trsutee, among others, from April, the early stages of COVID-19 in Ghana, conceptualized the project and with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders came out with the designs and project estimates cost.

Donations from patriotic Ghanaians and corporate bodies 

Following this, the Fund was set up and saw many patriotic Ghanaians and corporate bodies donating from as little as sixty pesewas to raise the needed funds for the project which has components such as laboratories, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), general wards, among others.

536 patriotic and industrious Ghanaians made donations

The funds were donated by 536 patriotic and industrious Ghanaians to fund the project to support government’s efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

$5.5m cash/materials, $2m free services

This is made up of $5.5 million in cash and materials as well as $2 million in free services offered by various professionals, groups and tax waivers.

Between 66 pesewas and GH¢10m donated

Corporate entities and individuals contributed between 66 pesewas and GH¢10 million to the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund.

Components of the facility

The first ever GIDC comprised a level three Biomedical laboratory, a 21-bed Intensive Care Unit, a dispensary, a triage unit, waiting areas, nurses station, VIP and general wards and a medical gas house, was constructed through the collaboration of civilian and military engineers, planners and architects within three months.

Designers of the facility

The structure was designed jointly by the Built Environment Professionals made up of the Ghana Institute of Architects, Engineers, Surveyors and Planners, the Ghana Armed Forces and Specialists Consultants from the Ministry of Health and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Various design enhancements requested by GMA

Various design enhancements were done in response to additional requests by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other infectious disease clinicians and biomedical scientists.

Various units

The enhancements include the incorporation of a level 2.5 scalable to a level 3 biomedical laboratory, in consultation with officials from Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, the addition of a 21-bed intensive care unit and total insulation of the centre for energy efficiency since the facility will be required to be climatically controlled throughout its use.

Another one is the application of ultra-violet radiation treatment of air entering and exiting the facility to ensure no contaminated air exits the building.

President Akufo-Addo cut sod on April 17, 2020

President Akufo-Addo on April 17, 2020, cut the sod for the construction of the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre.

Relief services to individuals and families

The fund extended relief services to individuals and families who were hardest hit by the pandemic, undertake sensitisation programmes and also support institutions at the forefront of the fight.

Projects of Ghana Covid-19 Private Sector Fund

Since its establishment, the fund embarked on a number of projects in conformity with its agenda.

‘Feed a Kayayo Project’

Through one of its initiatives, dubbed ‘Feed A Kayayo Project’, more than 140,000 free hot meals have been served to persons affected by the lockdown in Accra and Kumasi.

Supply of PPE

Under its project dubbed ‘Protect and Resource the Frontline,’ the fund has also supplied tertiary care personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Ga East Municipal Hospital, which is the primary treatment centre for Covid-19 patients.

The Managing Director of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited is the Chairman of the team, with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chamber Bulk Oil Distributors, Mr Senyo Kwasi Hosi, as the Managing Trustee of the fund.

Other members of the management team are the Chairman of Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd, Mr Edward Effah; a Director, CH Group, Mr Kwaku Bediako; the CEO, Woodfield Energy Resources Ltd, Mr John Taylor; the Chairman of Wilkins Engineering Ltd, Mr Omane Frimpong, and the Managing Director of Bamson Group, Mr Kwame Ofosu Bamfo.

The rest are the Group Chairman of Kasapreko, Mr Kwabena Adjei; the Chairman of Svani Group Ltd, Mr Thomas Svanikier; the CEO of the Multimedia Group Ltd, Mr Kwasi Twum, and a Commissioner at the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ms Julie Essiam.

Similar facilities planned for Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale

It is expected that the three ecological zones, that’s the Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern would have similar facilities, and would be constructed in Takoradi, Kumasi and Tamale respectively.