As part of the grand finale of its month-long Ashanti Month celebration, Telecel Ghana, through the Telecel Ghana Foundation, has donated vital neonatal medical equipment to Kumasi South Hospital and signed a two-year partnership agreement to support the facility’s Mother and Baby Unit.
The donation includes two Firefly Phototherapy Units for the treatment of neonatal jaundice, a Wall Baby Radiant Warmer to care for premature and low-birth-weight babies, and an Infant Digital Weighing Scale to support accurate growth monitoring.
The intervention comes at a crucial time for maternal and newborn healthcare services, as hospitals continue to manage increasing numbers of premature babies and newborns requiring specialised medical care.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns.
“The first days of a child’s life are often the most critical, and for many families, they can also be the most uncertain. Through this partnership with Kumasi South Hospital, we are investing in better outcomes for newborns, supporting healthcare professionals and helping to create an environment where children can survive, recover and reach their full potential,” she said.
Under the agreement, Telecel Ghana will adopt the hospital’s Mother and Baby Unit for the next two years. The partnership will include renovation works, the provision of essential consumables and other improvements aimed at creating a safer, more comfortable and baby-friendly environment for patients, their families and healthcare workers.
Kumasi South Hospital is one of the Ashanti Region’s key referral facilities for maternal and child healthcare, handling the delivery of more than 10,000 babies. Many of these cases involve premature births and complications such as birth asphyxia, neonatal jaundice and infections.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the hospital, Dr. Rita Yeboah, Head of the Paediatric Unit, expressed gratitude to the Telecel Ghana Foundation for its support.
She noted that one of the facility’s major challenges has been the frequent wear and tear of critical medical equipment, which can affect service delivery and increase referrals to tertiary healthcare facilities.
“Our greatest appreciation goes to the Telecel Foundation for donating this essential medical equipment and committing to renovate the newborn unit and labour ward. This support will help ensure that babies are born in a safer environment, improve the quality of care we provide and ultimately save lives,” Dr. Yeboah said.
Representing the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate and the Deputy Director of Clinical Care at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Rita Larsen underscored the importance of investing in child health, describing it as a critical step towards reducing illness and preventable deaths among children.
According to her, strengthening child healthcare not only improves survival rates but also helps ensure that future generations can grow, thrive and reach their full potential.
She commended the Telecel Foundation for committing to adopt the ward for two years, noting that the initiative reflects a long-term approach to supporting healthcare delivery rather than a one-off intervention.
“The decision by Telecel Foundation to adopt the ward for two years demonstrates a commitment to sustainable impact rather than a one-time intervention,” she said.
Dr. Larsen added that strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors remain essential to improving healthcare infrastructure and patient outcomes across the country.
“It is through such partnerships that we can strengthen healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes and build resilient health systems that meet the needs of our people. This is corporate citizenship at its best, and I encourage others to emulate this example,” she stated.
Leading the donation on behalf of the company, Nicolas Bourg, Board Chair of Telecel Group, said the initiative forms part of Telecel’s broader commitment to supporting long-term national development.
“We hope this contribution will complement the excellent work already being done here, improve health outcomes for newborns and mothers, and strengthen the partnership we are building with the facility for lasting impact,” he said.
Beyond Healthcare: A Month of Community Impact
Throughout June, Telecel Ghana transformed its annual Ashanti Month celebration into a platform for community development, focusing on sports, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, healthcare outreach, business engagement and customer appreciation.
One of the highlights of the month was the company’s continued support for the prestigious Otumfuo Open Golf Tournament, which it sponsored for the ninth consecutive year. The tournament brought together professional, amateur and corporate golfers from across Africa at the Kumasi Golf Club under the patronage of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Another major milestone was the launch of Telecel Ashanti Codes, a digital skills initiative aimed at equipping young people with coding and technology skills needed to participate in the digital economy.
The programme, spearheaded by the Telecel Ghana Foundation, was launched in the presence of regional and local government officials and forms part of the company’s commitment to train 1,000 young people in Kumasi, Obuasi, Nsuta and Wiamoase.
Telecel Ghana also organised a major retailer forum at Kejetia, bringing together about 300 cash agents and trade partners to strengthen its mobile money ecosystem while creating opportunities for engagement and business growth across the region.
In Konongo, the Telecel Foundation’s HealthFest outreach programme delivered health screening and wellness services to nearly 400 residents and surrounding communities, helping to improve access to preventive healthcare services.
The company further deepened its engagement with customers and businesses through visits, stakeholder interactions and promotional activities led by its senior management and regional teams across the Ashanti Region.
The month-long celebration concluded with the two-day Telecel Cashless Bazaar at Kumasi Mall, where merchants, entrepreneurs and consumers explored the benefits of digital payments and their role in expanding financial inclusion.
As Ashanti Month drew to a close, Telecel Ghana highlighted its commitment to driving development across multiple sectors, including healthcare, digital skills training, financial inclusion, youth empowerment and customer engagement.
The company said the initiatives reinforce its belief that meaningful connectivity goes beyond technology and delivers the greatest value when it contributes to improving lives and strengthening communities.