The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has refuted claims suggesting that the government has abandoned existing health projects for the Agenda 111.
Critics including former president John Dramani Mahama have accused the government of abandoning hospital projects started by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when it was in power.
However, Agyeman-Manu said the claims are untrue because most of the projects inherited by his ministry have been completed and handed over while some are still under construction.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday (18 August), the health minister asked critics to get proof of such projects and not make unfounded statements.
“The government alone is mobilising to 12 sites including Shama and La. So next week you will see work even now ongoing in these places.
“I am planning a tour. Those of you who want to join me, in the second week of September with my infrastructure department for us to actually show to Ghanaians what is actually at the sites we are talking about,” Agyeman-Manu said.
We’ll deliver Agenda 111 hospitals on time
Meanwhile, Kwabena Nyarko, the consultant for the Agenda 111 project, is optimistic that the hospitals earmarked under the initiative will be completed on time to enhance health-care delivery across the country.
The project which commenced simultaneously at 88 sites across the country on Tuesday (17 August) seeks to bridge health infrastructure gaps following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking with Nana Yaa Mensah on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (18 August), Nyarko said: “I come to this project with a background both in hospitals and also in real estate, so I definitely have a clear understanding of the task ahead.”
He added: “So far we have put together a team … there are 20 different consulting firms that are involved in this project, and we’ve co-ordinated all the work of all these consulting firms to date and we are transitioning into what we will call the post-contract phase.
“The programme is on course. We will deliver the hospitals. There is a strong commitment from the government to fund it and I believe Ghanaians will be the beneficiaries and will see the benefits of these hospitals in the local communities.”
Touching on funding and timelines, the consultant said: “We are looking at three years, so it is going to go over a three-year budget and the government has committed US$100 million as seed money …there is further provision for the programme as we go along.”
Fred Dzakpata
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