A recent report published by the Liberal Institute for Policy Studies (LIPS) has shown substantial disparities in health infrastructure development in the Ashanti Region between the two major political parties.
The report detailed the strides made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) compared to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the past decade.
The group emphasised three key variables that formed the basis of their research – projects inherited, initiated, and commissioned within the two-term periods of both political parties.
The data presented revealed that during their tenure from 2009 to 2017, the NDC did not complete or commission any hospital projects inherited from previous regimes.
The report further stated that the NDC’s initiation of hospital projects, notably the Fomena and Kumawu District Hospitals, failed to materialise into operational facilities.
LIPS contrastingly indicated that the NPP, in power since 2017, has made notable progress. It says six inherited hospital projects, including the long-awaited Bekwai District Hospital, have been completed and commissioned.
Dr Keskine Owusu Poku, executive director of LIPS, gave these updates at the launch of the newly created center-right think-thank based in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday (23 April). He maintains the governing party’s achievements go beyond conventional hospitals.
“Specifically, the Mother and Baby Unit is the legacy of the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who through her ingenuity and leadership raised funds from corporate Ghana to build. Additionally, 5 of these specialised projects are also completed and four are in use. The completed ones are the Patase Police Hospital (by the Police Service), Treatment and Quarantine Facility (Chirapatre), Comprehensive Treatment and Quarantine Facility (Sewua), Zipline Medical Drone Delivery, One Constituency One Ambulance.
“It is interesting to note that before the One Constituency One Ambulance project in Ashanti Region, the Region could boost of only 2 working ambulances out of 5five. Today, the Ashanti Region has 48 Ambulances, out of which one is dedicated to each of the 47 constituencies and 1 dedicated to the Kumasi Sports Stadium. The Medical Drone Delivery Service is also helping to deliver needed medical supplies to the hinterland in the Ashanti Region.
“We can state without any ambiguity that the record of the NPP in the Ashanti Region on health infrastructure, development and delivery, is stronger than that of the NDC”.
The Liberal Institute for Policy Studies (LIPS) has been established to promote liberal democracy, economic freedom, and individual rights in Ghana.
LIPS conducts research and analysis on various policy issues, including economic development, education, healthcare, and governance.
The founding members of the LIPS Think Tank include Professor Dr Dr Otchere Addai-Mensah as President, Dr Keskine Owusu Poku as Executive Director, and Victor Osei Poku.
Other key members are Essel-Mills as Director of Research, Jimmy Boahie-Ansah as Director of Administration and Finance, and Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, as Presidential Advisor on Health Services, serving as a Special Consultant to LIPS on policy direction and monitoring.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Ashanti Region
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