Government signs $600m deal with Dubai firm for medical university, hospital

Vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia with Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu

Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai-based Thumbay Group for the establishment of a Teaching Hospital and a medical university in Ghana.

The deal came three months after Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia toured the facilities of the company and campus of the Gulf Medical University at Ajman in the United Arab Emirates.

The university expected to be built in Ghana would be known as Gulf Medical University (GMU).

The Thumbay Group will liaise with the Education and Health Ministries to facilitate the establishment of the Ghana campus of the Gulf Medical University and the Thumbay Teaching Hospital in the Greater Accra Region.

The two projects are expected to take between five to eight years to be completed at an estimated cost of $600 million.

The proposed university would offer Vocational, Diploma, Undergraduate, Post Graduate, and Doctoral programmes in Medical Sciences, Allied Health Sciences and other disciplines to Ghanaian and International students.

At least over 3,000 Ghanaians are expected to be employed after completion. It is to be sited on a 25-acre plot of land provided by the Government of Ghana.

Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh and Health Minister, Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu signed the MoU on behalf of the country.

Founding President of the Thumbay Group, Thumbay Moideen signed for the company at a brief ceremony witnessed by the Vice President at the Flagstaff House Friday.

Also present at the ceremony were the Aviation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah and Ghana’s Consul-General to the United Arab Emirates, Samata Gifty Bukari.

Speaking before the signing ceremony, Dr Bawumia lauded officials of the Thumbay Group for their decision to set up the medical university and the hospital in Ghana.

He said their decision fits into President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision to provide first class healthcare to Ghanaians while providing enhanced training to medical personnel.

“We are very happy with the proposed establishment of this medical university, as well as the Thumbay Hospital, as it will help to train more doctors and allied medical personnel and fill in the gap in our healthcare delivery," he said.

“It is also a demonstration of confidence in Ghana, and we encourage other companies and organisations to take advantage of the enabling environment Government is providing to put down roots and set up business in Ghana.”

On his part, Dr Thumbay Moideen explained the Thumbay Group selected Ghana because of its stability after they tried with no success to site similar facility in several African countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique and Kenya.

“From the research done by our team in Africa- we have been to almost all countries – Ghana is the best place to do business” Dr Thumbay indicated.

“Ghana is a serious place to do business and we are happy to be here. We pledge to fulfil our part of this agreement to ensure the University and Hospital are built to benefit both Ghana and the Thumbay Group.”

The Thumbay Group, is a UAE - based diversified international business conglomerate, headquartered in Dubai, with operations across 20 sectors including Education, Healthcare, Medical Research, Diagnostics, Retail Pharmacy, Health Communications, Retail Opticals, Wellness, Nutrition Stores, Hospitality, Real Estate, Publishing, Technology, Media, Events, Medical Tourism, Trading and Marketing & Distribution.