The Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has reiterated that the previous administration failed to secure a stable source of funding to complete the Agenda 111 Hospital projects.
He said this during a tour of one of the project sites at Bokoro in the Ahanta West municipality in the Western Region on March 8.
The Agenda 111 Hospital projects, initiated under the Akufo-Addo administration, was aimed at significantly boosting Ghana’s health infrastructure.
Despite the project’s promise, none of the hospitals was operational by the end of tenure of the NPP-led administration, although President Akufo-Addo claimed to have completed three.
On Monday, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, as part of an assessment of the projects was at Bokoro in the Ahanta West municipality.
Though the physical structure has been built, he observed that it lacks essential operational capacity.
The Minister estimates that an additional 140 million cedis would be required to complete the project, as contractors are still awaiting payment.
“The Agenda 111 project, which includes the construction of 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, was estimated to cost around $1.9 billion. However, as of the time the NPP government left office, they had spent approximately $400 million on the project. Despite this significant investment, not a single hospital under this project is operational yet,” he stressed.
According to him, “completing the project and paying for it to become state property are two different things. Currently, an additional $9 million (around 140 million cedis) is needed to complete the project,” he stated.
He noted that before the facility could become a state property, government must fulfill its contractual obligations by paying the contractors, who are awaiting payment.
“Unlike when President Mahama left office, where he ensured that funds were allocated for the completion of ongoing health facilities, the current project lacks dedicated funding sources. As a result, we’re facing a significant challenge in completing the project, with no reliable funds available to settle the contractors’ debts,” he lamented.
Meanwhile some Bokoro residents have expressed concern over the hospital’s location, citing its proximity to a nearby cement factory.
In response Mr Akandoh the facility would be used when completed because state resources have been invested.
“We inherited this site, and despite any limitations, we must make the most of it. It’s essential that we utilize this facility effectively, as abandoning it would be a waste of resources,” he explained.
Source:
3news.com
Source link
