By Louis Lamis.
The grounds of Asafo-Boakye Specialist Hospital at Ahenema-Kokoben in Kumasi were transformed into a vibrant community health centre on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as 1,600 children benefited from free specialist medical screening during the third edition of the TWISCO-ABSH Kids Fair.
The initiative, which brought together children and their parents from different parts of the Kumasi metropolis and beyond, offered free consultations and specialist screening in dental, eye, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) health, as well as nutritional counselling.
For many families, the event provided an opportunity to have their children’s health concerns assessed by qualified professionals without the financial burden normally associated with specialist medical care.
From the early hours of the morning, families began arriving at the hospital. Mothers carried toddlers, fathers accompanied older children, while grandparents also joined the growing crowd as the hospital’s premises gradually took on the atmosphere of a community gathering rather than a conventional medical facility.
By the time activities were fully underway, hundreds of children had moved through the various screening points, receiving professional attention and guidance from medical personnel.
Early Detection.
The organisers said the initiative was rooted in the belief that children should not be denied access to specialist healthcare because of financial difficulties.
The screenings were deliberately focused on areas that could easily be overlooked by parents, particularly when symptoms are mild or when families are unable to afford specialist consultations.
Through the various stations, children received assessments covering dental health, vision, hearing and other ENT-related conditions, while parents also benefited from nutritional advice and one-on-one consultations.
For some families, the screenings resulted in the identification of health concerns that had previously gone unnoticed.
The organisers explained that the early identification of such conditions could enable parents to seek appropriate treatment before the problems became more serious.
The initiative, therefore, placed strong emphasis on preventive healthcare and the importance of identifying childhood health conditions at an early stage.
Vision Behind The Fair.
The Administrator of Asafo-Boakye Specialist Hospital, Stephen Ofosu, said the Kids Fair was part of the hospital’s broader commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to the community.
He said the vision behind the initiative was closely linked to the decision by the founder of the hospital, Dr Benjamin Asafo-Boakye, to return to Ghana after building a successful medical career abroad.
According to him, Dr Asafo-Boakye trained in Germany and subsequently completed paediatric residencies in Washington, D.C., before establishing a successful medical practice in the United States.
Mr Ofosu said despite the opportunities available to him abroad, Dr Asafo-Boakye chose to return home with the conviction that people in the Ashanti Region deserved access to quality healthcare.
He said the hospital was an expression of that vision.
“Behind everything you see here today is one man’s decision to come home,” Mr Ofosu said.
He explained that the Kids Fair was intended to take the hospital’s healthcare services beyond its walls and into the community.
“Healthcare is not only about treating illness inside our hospital walls. It is also about reaching into the community, preventing disease before it starts, and ensuring that no child is denied quality healthcare because of financial difficulty,” he said.
Prevention
Mr Ofosu described preventive healthcare as one of the most effective ways of improving the health and future prospects of children.
He said early diagnosis could significantly influence a child’s development and quality of life.
“Prevention is the most powerful medicine we have. If you catch a problem at seven years old, you change the entire trajectory of that child’s life. That is not an exaggeration. That is just medicine. And it should not be a privilege,” he said.
He said the increasing participation in the Kids Fair over the years was an indication that the programme was gaining the confidence of residents.
The first edition attracted more than 1,200 children, while the second edition recorded about 1,400 children.
This year’s edition increased the figure to 1,600.
Mr Ofosu said the growth was not merely a statistic but evidence of the relationship the hospital was building with the community.
“Every year the number goes up because trust goes up,” he said.
He explained that families who benefited from the programme shared their experiences with relatives and neighbours, thereby encouraging more people to participate.
“That is how you build a community relationship. Not with announcements. With consistency,” he added.
Parents Speak
For some parents, the fair provided much-needed answers to concerns they had been unable to address because of financial constraints.
One of the beneficiaries, Abena Mensah, who travelled from Suame with her three children, said she had been worried about an ear-related concern involving her youngest child for several months.
She said the financial cost of specialist healthcare had made it difficult for her to seek immediate attention.
However, the free screening enabled her daughter to be assessed and gave her a clearer understanding of what she needed to do next.
“Today they checked her. They sat with me. They explained. I know what to do now,” she said.
Another parent, Emmanuel Darko from Asokwa, said the initiative demonstrated that corporate social responsibility could have a direct impact on people’s lives.
He said he had heard numerous statements from organisations about giving back to society but was impressed to see the concept translated into practical assistance.
“I have heard people talk about giving back to the community many, many times. Today I saw it. My son was treated like he mattered. That is all a parent wants — to know that their child matters to someone else too,” he said.
Strong Partnership
The third edition of the Kids Fair was supported by Promasidor, TWISCO and Liezer-Legacy Productions.
Promasidor, a major food and nutrition company operating in West Africa, supported the programme in an area closely linked to its focus on family nutrition.
TWISCO also provided institutional support to the initiative, while Liezer-Legacy Productions, a Kumasi-based entertainment and media company, contributed to the organisation and visibility of the event.
The collaboration, according to the organisers, demonstrated how institutions and businesses could combine their resources and expertise to address important community needs.
A Growing Tradition
As the day progressed, the medical consultations were complemented by activities that created a relaxed atmosphere for the children.
Children who had initially arrived anxious about medical examinations were later seen enjoying the various activities on the hospital grounds.
Parents also used the opportunity to interact with one another and share experiences from the day’s programme.
At the close of the event, Mr Ofosu reiterated the hospital’s commitment to community service.
“Corporate social responsibility is more than a corporate obligation; it is a moral responsibility,” he said.
He added that the hospital considered itself privileged to serve the community and would continue to invest in initiatives that improved the lives of the people it served.
“We believe a hospital should not only receive from its community but should actively invest in improving the lives of the people it serves,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Mr Ofosu said the Kids Fair had now become an important part of the hospital’s identity and indicated that preparations would begin towards an even bigger fourth edition in 2027.
He said lessons from the previous editions would continue to guide improvements in the programme as the hospital sought to reach more children and families.
For the 1,600 children who participated in the 2026 edition, the event provided more than free medical screening.
It offered parents answers to questions about their children’s health, gave medical professionals an opportunity to detect possible problems early and reinforced the message that quality healthcare should be accessible to every child, regardless of the family’s financial circumstances.
TWISCO-ABSH Kids Fair 2026 — Third Edition
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Venue: Asafo-Boakye Specialist Hospital, Ahenema-Kokoben, Kumasi
Partners: Promasidor, TWISCO and Liezer-Legacy Productions
