The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) has officially inaugurated a reconstructed and expanded Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, restoring a critical facility for advanced heart care in Ghana.
The reopening comes barely a year after the original laboratory was destroyed by fire, disrupting specialised cardiac procedures and leaving many patients dependent on alternative treatment options.
The newly upgraded facility is expected to improve access to lifesaving cardiovascular interventions and strengthen Ghana’s specialist healthcare capacity.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, described the project as a demonstration of national resilience and commitment to protecting lives.
“Today, Ghana answers that test. We gather to restore a lifeline, reclaim a critical pillar of our national health security, and affirm that we do not abandon what saves lives,” she said.
The original Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, opened in January 2017, played a major role in transforming cardiac care in Ghana by allowing complex heart procedures to be performed locally rather than requiring patients to seek treatment abroad.
However, the facility was destroyed by a devastating fire on March 7, 2025, temporarily affecting cardiac interventions at the country’s leading referral hospital.
Following an assessment in January 2026, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund decided not only to rebuild the laboratory but to upgrade it into a more advanced facility capable of handling the growing demand for cardiovascular services.
Reconstruction works began on February 17, 2026, and were completed in less than five months.
According to Mrs Darko-Opoku, the new laboratory is “not a replica of what was lost” but a superior replacement with improved technology, increased capacity and enhanced systems designed to provide faster and safer cardiac care.
The facility is expected to resume operations with a landmark cardiac intervention programme beginning July 12, 2026, in partnership with the National Cardiothoracic Centre, specialist cardiologists from the United States, the Mount Carmel Foundation, Africa World Airlines and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
The initiative will see 30 patients from across Ghana undergo complex Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device procedures, providing access to treatments that would otherwise be difficult for many patients to afford.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, established to support patients with chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, said its mandate extends beyond covering medical expenses to include investment in specialist training, healthcare infrastructure and medical research.
Mrs Darko-Opoku said the restored facility represents more than a medical building, describing it as a place where “science meets compassion, where expertise meets equity, and where families can receive lifesaving care with dignity.”
She commended President John Dramani Mahama for the leadership and support that contributed to the successful reconstruction of the facility, noting that the project reflects Ghana’s commitment to developing a resilient healthcare system.
