There was a rich display of royalty, tradition and culture at the launch of the 35th Anniversary celebration of the National Cardiothoracic Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The Sempe Korle Bu Mankralo, Nii Adotei Okugyeaman I, who represented Nii Adotey Otinto II, Chief and Overlord of Sempe and Mankralo of the Ga State, turned out in splendid royal regalia with his entourage.
Traditional drummers and dancers were also on hand to spice up the event with their well-calculated dance moves. A former director of the Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr Lawrence Agyeman Sereboe, being a royal himself, could not help but join the dancers in their intricate dance moves.
Nii Adotei Okugyeaman I stated that the people of Sempe are proud to have the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and by extension, the Centre, on their land.
He congratulated Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng for his hard work and commitment to making the dream of the centre a reality for the benefit of patients with heart and heart-related conditions.
The launch included a presentation by Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng on the development of National Cardiothoracic Centre, and concluded with an unveiling of a bust of Prof Frimpong-Boateng in his honour.
Nii Okugyeman I expressed gratitude for the invitation to be part of the event and added that this celebration marked a significant milestone in the history of cardiothoracic vascular care in our nation.
He further noted that during its 35 years of existence, the National Cardiothoracic Centre has stood as a beacon of excellence, dedication, skill and innovation in medical care in Ghana and West Africa.
Touching on the theme of the anniversary which is “a celebration of a legacy of excellence and a future of perfection,” Nii Okuagyeman I explained that the gathering was not only a celebration of the remarkable past achievements of the centre but also a harbinger of the promising future that lies ahead.
The National Cardiothoracic Centre is one of the centres of excellence in the hospital. It was established in 1989 and specializes in heart and heart-related conditions. It is the foremost center for the training of heart surgeons in Ghana and West Africa sub-region.
The National Cardiothoracic Centre has so far trained nine and 15 Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Ghana and Nigeria respectively. There are plans underway to expand the facility and range of services.