In Atasomanso, a suburb of Komasi, a small private maternity unit had been serving the needs of some of the poorer people in the surrounding rural area.

Although there is a state run health service in Ghana, it is very overstretched and many Mothers-to-be could expect to wait in line for up to 12 hours at the maternity unit of the main teaching hospital in Komasi.

The only other options available are private maternity hospitals, but these are very expensive and simply beyond the reach of the poorer people.

The maternity unit in Atasomanso was basic, but affordable, and it was literally a life-line for many poor mothers, but in 2002 the midwife who had been running the unit decided to leave and with nobody to replace her, the unit would have to be closed down.

The owner, Mr Opanin Kwaku Nyako, knew Frank Frimpong and asked him to speak with his friends and colleagues in the medical profession to see if he could find a replacement midwife.

There was a good response, with plenty of suitably qualified midwife applicants, but unfortunately none of them could afford to refinance the business. It wasn't a massive amount of money that was needed by western standards. The year's lease on the buildings would cost £800. Some roof repairs were required, some new beds and extra items of equipment. All in all around £2,000.

In January 2003 Frank visited his new patron in England, Chris Marvin, and the subject of the maternity centre came up. Frank said he would do all the necessary work to get the unit up and running if Chris could come up with the money.

The funds were provided and the work commenced in September 2003 and completed and on 2nd January 2004. The clinic was re-opened and named after Chris's fiancée, Donna Gibb.

The clinic consists of a small courtyard from which radiate one delivery room, one consulting room, on small room for records and two smaller rooms for the resident nurses and a dispensary. The rooms are very basic with minimal facilities and only 5 beds. There is still a need for many items to help the clinic better meet the needs of its patients and staff. Nursing staff currently have to get by with improvised equipment and beds, for example drip stands cobbled together by a local welder and butcher's scales for weighing the newborn babies.

Under the general guidance of Frank Frimpong, the clinic employs one midwife, one privately trained nurse (resident on premises), two nursing assistants (one of whom also stays permanently on site) and an office manager. Although the Maternity Clinic is not burdened with loans or debts, it's continued operation relies on it's ability to be self-financing, at least in part. Charges for the maternity care are set at an affordable rate within the reach of the poorer local people, and for the few who simply cannot afford to pay anything, treatment is free. Nobody is turned away.

The token charges combined with regular contributions from Chris, ensure that Frank can pay all the staff for their services. The monthly wages bill is the equivalent in sterling of just £110.

Since 2004, 143 babies have been successfully delivered and the clinic continues to attract new patients at a rate of almost 800 a year.

This is by no means the end of the story, however. Indeed, the next chapter of the story is about to be written as work begins to raise funds for the new G G Marvin Hospital nearby in Kotwi, in which it is planned to re-house and improve the Donna Gibb Maternity Clinic.

The ambition is to have the new hospital up and running before the current lease on the clinic expires in June 2009, when Mr Opanin Kwaku Nyako proposes to use the land for the building of his own private stores.