The Minister of Finance Ken Ofori- Atta has stated that processes are ongoing for the construction of 101 hospitals including the Eastern Regional Hospital.
July 22, 2021, was exactly the year President Akufo Addo cut sod for the construction of 600-bed ultramodern Eastern regional Hospital, however, not a single block has been laid as the contractor is nowhere to be found after the sod cutting.
Again, on the 26th of April 2020, President Akufo Addo as part of his (8th) eighth address to the nation on the Government’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic laid out an ambitious plan to tackle Ghana’s health infrastructural deficit and restore the country on the path of achieving economic and social transformation.
He announced plans to build 88 new hospitals and other regional; hospitals but to no avail.
Presenting the Mid-Year budget review for 2021 fiscal economic year, the Finance Minister said ”This transformational project, now dubbed Agenda 111 will require that Government constructs: 101 standard district hospitals with accommodation for doctors and nurses, 6 new regional hospitals in the 6 new regions, 1 regional hospital for the Western Region, Rehabilitation of Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in the Western region, Constructing 2 new psychiatric hospitals, Construction of a new Accra Psychiatric hospital”.
The Minister said “The objective is to use a local team comprising of Ghanaian consultants, project managers, and construction firms. It is envisaged that upon the successful completion of the Agenda 111 Project, Ghanaians across the country will experience a marked improvement in access to health care and productivity”.
The Minister added “Government has engaged over twenty local consulting firms through a Lead Project Consultant to provide Architectural/Engineering Designs and Project Management support towards the execution of this all-important project. As is typical with such sizeable infrastructure/construction assignment agenda 111 will be implemented in two phases; Phase 1 involves the engagement of relevant consultants, survey and inspection of the proposed sites, feasibility studies, geotechnical studies, concept drawing, preparation of detailed drawings, BOQ’s, specifications, Contract Documents, processing of the necessary permits and documentation and others.”
He concluded that “Government and the Project Coordinating Team have worked tirelessly on Phase 1 and I am happy to report that pre-contract works have now been completed for Eighty-Eight (88) sites for the district hospitals. Mr. Speaker, we expect to commence Phase Two (construction) three weeks from now, from 17th August 2021. Mr. Speaker an important project such as Agenda 111 requires extensive preparation and due diligence. We are confident and happy with the level of detail and attention that has gone into the pre-contract works which will ensure that the construction phase will be executed on time and without a hitch due to the amount of preparation done”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
