On 23 October 2023, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presented the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital with a fully renovated maternity block. The initial request for assistance with the much-needed renovation came from Cape Coast Mayor, Hon. Ernest Arthur during a meeting with Elder Alfred Kyungu, General Authority Seventy and counselor in the Africa West Area presidency of the Church.
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A donation ceremony was held at the hospital with hospital employees, and community and traditional leaders in attendance. Representing the Church of Jesus Christ was Elder Anthony M. Kaku, an Area Seventy for the Church in the Cape Coast area. On behalf of the Church, Elder Kaku handed over the refurbished maternity block to the management of the hospital and the community of Cape Coast. Also in attendance were the Stake Presidents for the three Stakes in the Cape Coast area, President Tsatsu Kofi Woananu of the Cape Coast Ghana Stake, President Samuel Ferguson Laing of the Abura Ghana Stake, and President Frederick Antwi Sr. of the Yamoransa Ghana Stake.
“Everything we do as a church is done with Christ in mind. He showed us the way, how to serve others and how to love unconditionally,” said Elder Kaku in his remarks. “I believe that if we keep Christ first in our lives, He will bless our efforts, and the communities we serve.”
Attending the ceremony was Osabarima Kwesi Atta, a traditional leader, and the Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area. He noted in his remarks that the Church had shown a practical way to light the world by their generous donation. He also urged the hospital staff to show their appreciation for this donation by maintaining the facility so that it would bless the lives of the community members for generations to come. Osabarima Kwesi Atta also assisted Elder Kaku in commissioning the renovated buildings to the hospital.
Dr Derrick Bonsu, the Medical Superintendent of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital shared the value of this donation. “This donation is very timely. It will help mothers who are in the most need access quality maternity services without thinking about the interference of the rains.” Mr Kobina Ofosu, the District Director of Health, who represented the Regional Health Director Dr Marion Okoh Owusu, said this was the first positive development in many years for the hospital. “It has been on a downward trend for quite some time,” he said, and added that, “this donation will revive the hospital and the community.”
Cape Coast is located in the Central Region of Ghana. There have been members of the Church in Cape Coast since 1978 with some of the first baptisms in West Africa taking place in this region. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on 1 October 2023 that a Temple would be built in Cape Coast.