The Minister of Health (MoH), MrKwakuAgyemang Manu, says the government is committed to seeing through its Agenda 111 despite some initial challenges.
He explained that the delivery of the project was seriously on course as 67 out of the 111 had taken off since the sod-cutting ceremony in March 2021.
The Agenda 111 aims at constructing 111hospitals made up of 88 district hospitals, six regional hospitals,three psychiatric hospitals and refurbishment of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital for the country.
About eight Ghanaian consultants and architects have been selected to supervise the construction of the hospitals.
Taking his turn at the Minister’s Briefing series organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra yesterday, Mr Manu said the project had gone through various stages following its announcement by the President, Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo in March 2020.
These stages he said included dealing with issues like feasibility studies, land acquisition, land preparation, documentation, and resolution of land disputes,as well asmobilisation of contract fees.
He noted that so far construction works on 67 out of 111hospitals had started following full acquisition of lands and clearance by the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Manu said in all, 92 parcels of land of 15 acres in size had been acquired, processed and readied for the project, stressing that “51 of these lands are good for the project but 41 have some issues to be addressed.”
However, he said some of the districts don’t have the 15 acre stretch to enable the project to take off.
“Some contractors have moved to site while a few have started actual work and at nascent stages. The duration for the contract is 18 months, all things being equal,” he stressed.
. The Minister said the President had a serious interest in the project and would make sure that the projects were executed on time.
Touching on other projects, Mr Manu said government had not abandoned any health facilities started by the previous regime.
He explained thatprojects like the University of Ghana Medical Centre second phase completion, Bekwai Government Hospital, Sewua Hospital and the SomanyaGovernment Hospital had all been worked on.
In addition, he said six polyclinics in Accra and five in other parts of the country had been completed.
“Expansion works on KomfoAnokye, KorleBu, Tamale Teaching hospitals are also on-going to upgrade them. Those who are saying that show us just one hospital you have built, here we are; we have done a lot in two years. We shall complete many projects in spite of the stiff challenge and difficulties brought by COVID-19 pandemic,” he emphasised.
He recounted the impediments introduced by the disease that had affected the world economic order and politics, including the US and China.
“If in the midst of this pandemic the government has done this entire health infrastructure, then we need to praise the President,” he concluded.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
