Gov’t rallies support of Ghanaians for completion of Agenda 111 hospitals
The government has urged all Ghanaians, especially people in communities that would be benefiting from the construction of some 111 hospitals in some districts across the country to provide the needed support to contractors for the completion of the health facilities.
The government is of the belief that with the support of the benefiting communities, the projects, which are to improve on the current health infrastructure in the country and send health delivery services closer to the people would be completed on time.
To this end, “the government calls on all, especially the local beneficiary communities, traditional leaders, youth and all actors in the local health sector to give their full support to this project for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”
Those were the words of the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, at a press briefing in Accra today, August 15, 2021, monitored online by The Ghana Report.
He added, “Local communities are encouraged to take an interest and support not just the commencement of works, but the follow-up on progress in the coming months.”
He went on to say that, “the project is expected to deepen healthcare delivery at all district levels and ensure that the Ghanaian can access high-quality healthcare at all district levels.”
The 111 health facilities, including 101 hospitals for districts that do have such a facility, two specialized hospitals for the middle and northern belts, the redevelopment of the Accra psychiatric hospital, and the development of seven regional Hospitals is expected to create jobs for healthcare staff.
In addition, the housing and local services associated with these projects are expected to add a new layer to local economic activities in service of the local communities.
READ ALSO: Ghanaian Contractors To Build 111 Hospitals
President Akufo-Addo to cut sod for agenda 111 on Tuesday
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would on Tuesday, August 17, observe the commencement of works of the hospitals with a sod-cutting exercise at Trede in the Ashanti Region. Thereafter, contractors in other districts are also expected to commence works.
According to the information minister, already, commencement funding of $100 million has been made available through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) for the execution of the projects.
“The project is budgeted at nearly $17 million each of the district Hospitals. District and specialised hospitals are being funded by the government. Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) arrangements have been made for the construction of the Regional hospitals,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah said.
About agenda 111
The agenda 111, originally meant to construct 88 new districts hospitals across the country in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, was reviewed to have additional 23 hospitals.
President Akufo-Addo on April 27 in his 8th address to the nation announced the construction of 88, but the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, delivering the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review statement in Parliament on July 23 indicated the changes thereof.
According to the Project Implementation Committee, chaired by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, it has worked on securing 88 of 101 sites of about 15 acres each, procuring the services of consultants both for the entire project and the specific sites as well as securing funding for the project.
He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had revealed structural flaws in the country’s health care system, hence, the decision of the government to increase the number of hospitals to be constructed.