The La Palm Royal Beach Hotel has since last December netted 60 million cedis through fund-raising and charity in aid of the distressed Children's Block of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra.

Herbert Acquaye, General Manager of the Hotel, who made this known at a fund-raising cocktail in aid of the hospital in Accra on Saturday night, said he would within the next week or two present the amount to the hospital authorities.

The event, which was attended by members of the diplomatic and business communities and specially invited guests, formed part of a special initiative launched last December by the five-star hotel to raise 200 million cedis towards the rehabilitation of the Children's Block of the KBTH.

During last year's Lighting of the Christmas Tree and Charity programme, which was under the theme "Improving the Life of a Sick Child," Acquaye stated: "As a hospitality and service-oriented organisation, La Palm fully embraces this responsibility to play a leading role in the improvement of the health life of the Ghanaian child.

"We believe in acting with consistency by the nature of our work, which is seizing every opportunity to touch a life. By this gesture, we hope to be making a meaningful contribution to national development, especially in the health sector."

Last night, Acquaye revisited the need for assistance for the ailing Children's Block of the KBTH and pleaded with the patrons of the event to donate generously to the fund.

"To date, we have raised 60 million cedis for Korle-Bu, and tonight's programme is a continuation of our efforts to raise more money for the distressed hospital," he said.

Acquaye told the GNA that La Palm Royal Beach Hotel had lined up important events this year in a bid to achieve the target set last year in support of the rehabilitation and provision of upgraded services for the Children's Block of the KBTH.

Fritz Baffoe, Master of Ceremony for the night, reiterated the need for patrons of the night to support La Palm Royal Beach Hotel's drive to assist the Children's Block of the KBTH.

Guests of the night were thrilled to several tunes of music by the Tubinger Orchestra of Germany and South African songstress Sonti Mndebele. Gudni A. Emilsson, leader of the 19-member orchestra, told the GNA later that they were on a tour of West Africa.

Emilsson, who described the group's four-day stay in Ghana as wonderful, said they would leave the following day for Lome, Republic of Togo, and from there to Yaounde, Cameroon, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ms Mndebele, in a chat with the press, said she intended to launch her new album of 10 songs entitled 'Always Sonti' in Accra in late April or early May, this year. The South African songstress, who said she had featured alongside ace musicians Kojo Antwi, Lionel Richie, and Miriam Makeba, said she loved Ghanaians because they are very warm people. "I have made Ghana my second home. In fact, I love Ghana more than South Africa," she stated.