SGS : Presents EDGE Certificate to the First ‘Green Hospital’ in Africa

Rebecca Akufo-Addo, First Lady of Ghana, raised funds for the Mother and Baby Unit through The Rebecca Foundation and appointed Africa Building Partners (ABP) for the construction of the new hospital facility which was completed in January 2018. The Mother and Baby Unit is the first EDGE certified hospital in Africa.

For the new Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in Kumasi (Ghana), green design is a matter of necessity. Eric Gené, CEO and Founder of ABP, knows from his experience in developing green hospitals that the savings from reduced operational expenses can be channeled towards life-saving strategies.

'When it comes to hospitals, resource efficiency literally translates to saved lives,' said Gené. 'Lower operational costs, which are many times superior to savings in construction costs, free up cash flow to purchase better equipment and pay for the best medical professionals available. This results in a higher level of patient care.'

The First Lady of Ghana commented during the inauguration: 'This facility we are commissioning today is a world-class one. More importantly for me is the fact that it is the only green hospital in Africa, certified by EDGE of IFC and the World Bank.'

Benjamin Van der Auwera, Environment, Health and Safety General Manager for SGS Ghana, said during his speech: 'This hospital is a symbol of how utility savings from conserving energy and water can be rechanneled into providing greater patient care - and in this very specific case, even save lives.'

The EDGE certificate confirms that the Mother and Baby Unit achieves 56% energy savings and 33% water savings when compared with a similar hospital. It also confirms that there is 42% less energy embodied in materials.

SGS and its certification partner thinkstep are IFC's exclusive local partners in Ghana for EDGE audits and certification. They are also IFC's exclusive partners in Nigeria.

For further information, please contact:

Benjamin Van der Auwera
Environment, Health and Safety
Business Manager
m: +233 244 31 27 92

About thinkstep

thinkstep is a leading global sustainability services and software business. thinkstep enables organizations worldwide to succeed sustainably. Its industry-leading sustainability software, data and consulting services help businesses drive operational excellence, product innovation, brand value and regulatory compliance. With a global presence in 19 countries, thinkstep serves more than 2,000 companies, including 40 percent of the Fortune 500. Sustainable construction and real estate is one of its most important sectors, and thinkstep has extensive experience in supporting and developing green building certification standards including BREEAM, LEED and DGNB. For more information visit thinkstep.

About EDGE

An innovation of IFC, EDGE helps property developers to build and brand green in a fast, easy and affordable way. EDGE is supported by free software that encourages solutions to reduce energy, water and the energy used to make building materials by at least 20 percent, which is the standard for EDGE certification. For more information, visit EDGE Buildings.

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our capital, expertise and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In FY17, we delivered a record $19.3 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to help end poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit International Finance Corporation.

About SGS

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 95,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,400 offices and laboratories around the world.