Concerned Citizens of Kwahu East District in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, hit the street of Abetifi, the district capital to register their displeasure over an abandoned District hospital left uncompleted over five years.
The abandoned Abetifi Hospital is part of the six new District Hospital John Mahama-led NDC government was constructing under a $175 million contract signed with NMS Infrastructure LTD of the United Kingdom in 2012.
The other beneficiary districts were Kumawu, Fomena and Garu-Timpane, Dodowa District Hospital, and Somanya. While some of the hospitals have been completed, others have been abandoned.
The demonstration which saw the people of Kwahu Abetifi coming out in their numbers follows several complaints about government neglect of the project for many years.
The convener of the group, Mr. Godwin Ntiamoah, who addressed the media said, all efforts made to call the government’s attention to the project have proved futile.
“About six years ago that we had this hospital up to date they have not been able to complete it, our chiefs and elders in the community have spoken several times about this project to the authorities but the government has turn death years to our concerns so today we the citizens of Kwahu East are simply saying that the government should come and complete the project. Because we can’t sit down and watch a building worth one hundred and seventy-five thousand US dollars go waste”. The convener said.
“A building that was in its completing stage in fact the building was roofed, look at how dilapidated the building is, now the building has become a habitat for animals and weeds. Why should we waste the taxpayer’s money? We voted and what we deserve should be given to us the Kwahu people. Historically, we the Kwahu people have not demonstrated before because we don’t depend on the government, we work hard and do developmental projects by our self, God has blessed the Kwahu people already. But look we are talking about a health issue here; once you eat you can fall ill. We are not doing politics here; this is not NPP, NDC matter.”
The demonstrators issued an ultimatum that “We are giving the government from today 21st September 2021 an additional eighteen (18) months to complete the project else 2024 we won’t vote. The reason why we are giving the government 18 months is that the project is almost completed and it should take the government less than 18 months to complete it. The project started in 2015 and they should have been completed in 2016 but now it has taken almost 7 years why is it because we kept mute on the project? Why should the government do such a thing to the Kwahu People?”
The group presented their petition to the Chief of Abetifi, Akyemfuor Asiedu Agyemang II who doubles as Adontenhene of Kwahu Traditional Area.
The Abetifihene endorsed the demonstration stating that it is disheartening how the hospital project has been abandoned depriving the area of quality healthcare. He pledged to forward the petition to the appropriate quarters.
According to him all assurance by the Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong and Bryan Acheampong has not materialized.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
