The Minister for Health has assured that his ministry will complete all health infrastructure projects which were under construction before the Nana Akufo-Addo administration came to office. He said, “Since I joined the ministry, no project has been abandoned.”
Addressing recent questions on why government had set out on its flagship ‘Agenda 111’ project instead of completing some of these long-stalled projects, the under-fire minister attributed the delays in completing these projects to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted the global supply chain.
He said, “Ghanaians are forgetting that the world was hit by a pandemic that disrupted normal activities.”
He stated that due to the frequent disruptions and cancellations of flights, contractors and engineers have not been free to go about their work.
He explained that government has been setting up to kick-start work on some of these stalled projects.
He said, “We’ve been mobilising to 12 different sites, and within the next two weeks, work should recommence on Shama and La, for instance.”
He also stated that the contractor, NMS, had been contracted to do six projects, of which only the Dodowa Hospital was completed.
“When we came in, projects at Kumawu, Fomena and Sekondi Flats for workers were on the cusp of completion.”
He, however, explained that upon assumption of office, a value-for-money assessment of these projects was done, and now government has managed to get contractors back to work.
According to Agyemang-Manu, government has so far completed at least 10 of these hospital projects which were started by the Mahama administration.
Giving further updates on some of the major projects which the previous administration began, he said that the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) is essentially complete and working.
He also explained that work on the Ridge Hospital phase 2 had stalled because the funding agency, US EXIM Bank, had not had its board constituted under the Trump government, so could not advance money for the continuation of the work.
List of inherited health infrastructure projects completed by President Akufo-Addo’s Govt.
• The 160-bed capacity Wa Regional Hospital and the 100-bed capacity Ga-East Municipal Hospital at Kwabenya which started under Prez Kufuor was commissioned for use in November 2019.
• Major Rehabilitation and upgrade of Tamale Teaching Hospital which started in July 2015 has been completed and handed over for use in February 2019.
• Completion and Equiping of the 579-bed capacity University Of Ghana Medical Center in October 2020.
• The construction of 10 Disease Centers(Polyclinics) at Dawurampong, Biriwa, Estii Sunkwa, Binpong Egya, Gyamera Mankrong, Akonfude, Ekumfi, Naakwa and Gomoa Potsin which started in January 2016 was completed and commission for use by the NPP government in August 2018.
• Euroget Hospital projects conceived under the NPP in 2008 which sod was cut in 2012 and 2015 at Nsawkaw, Twifo-Praso and Tepa all completed and commissioned for use as at November 2020 with that of Sewuah Regional Hospital, Afari(Military Hospital), Salaga, Konongo and Odumase ongoing and expected to be completed, commissioned for use soon.
• The Nationwide TB Case Detection Programme which started in July 2015 was completed in August 2018 by the NPP government. Installation of all equipment had been done as at August 2018.
• The construction and completion of offices and Ministry Of Health Headquarters at Ridge closer to the NHIS Headquarters in 2020.
• The Expansion of Radiotherapy Medical Services at Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals.
• The construction of 8 District Hospital and Integrated IT Systems in Ghana which are located in Wa, Fomena, Kumawu, Abetifi, Garu Tempani, Sekondi, and Takoradi were abandoned in July, 2016. Only the Dodowa project was completed by the NDC.
Value for money audit was conducted and revealed over expenditure hence recommendations were made to the Attorney General to see to the termination of these contracts.
Source: Selorm GBORBIDZI || The Finder, Accra