The leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), has appealed to President Akufo-Addo, to give the association tax waiver assistance on the purchase of cancer treatment equipment for Sweden – Ghana medical center, which is now fully owned by the Association.
The Sweden Ghana Medical Centre, located at EastLegon Hills in Greater Accra Region, was primarily owned and operated by Global Medical Investments (GMI-AB), which was founded in 2009 with the express purpose of establishing and operating cancer centers in developing countries. GMI-AB is an investment and project development company for Sweden’s development finance institution, Swedfund, partnered with Elekta, a leading innovator of equipment and software used to improve, prolong and save the lives of people with cancer and brain disorders.
However, GNAT was given the first offer by the Swedish company when the decided to fold up in Ghana and the association took advantage and purchased it outright.
Speaking on behalf of GNAT at the Presidency today the 8th of July 2021, when she led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, Philipa Larsen, the President of GNAT, noted that the association is pleased to announce that it is now the hundred percent owner of the medical facility.
“I am happy to inform this house that GNAT has fully bought the Sweden – Ghana medical center and so that Centre is now ours,”Philipa Larsen said.
“Now that we have bought it, we also want to upgrade it to make it the best treatment Centre for cancer in Africa and that would mean that we have to do a few more things to upgrade it,” the GNAT President added.
Tax Waiver
According to her, GNAT would like to setup a positron emission tomography (PET SCAN) machine. She explained that “it is the machine that helps with the treatment of cancer”.
“We also want to put up a surgical unit where ones you enter the place, you have to complete the treatment before you move out of the place. These equipment are very expensive and we wouldn’t want to disturb you but at least we want to have a tax waiver. We will try to source for loans on our own to buy the equipment and machines, but because we are going to import them, we are pleading if we could have a tax waiver, we will be very happy” the GNAT president requested.
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo in his response noted the he is pleasantly impressed to know that GNAT has fully acquired the Sweden – Ghana medical center and will be operating the facility as a fully owned Ghanaian venture.
He indicated that their request for tax waiver on the equipment they’re intend to import is a matter for Parliament to determine. The appropriate process would therefore have to be initiated as far as their request is concerned.
90th Anniversary of GNAT
GNAT also informed the President about their upcoming 90th anniversary celebration which would be climaxed between the 3rd and 7th of January 2022. They requested that President Akufo-Addo graces the occasion as their special guest of honour.
President Akufo-Addo readily accepted the invitation noting that the association is several years older than the country Ghana and that goes a long way to demonstrate the importance of teachers to the development of the country.