Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has urged the government to redirect funds earmarked for the proposed 24-Hour Economy Market Centres towards the completion of the stalled Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country.
According to the former Minister for Works and Housing, the completion of the hospitals should be treated as a national priority, given the significant investment already made in the projects and the urgent need to improve healthcare delivery.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during discussions, Asenso-Boakye questioned the rationale behind committing substantial resources to new projects when several Agenda 111 health facilities remain unfinished.
He argued that many communities continue to face challenges in accessing quality healthcare and would benefit more immediately from the completion and operationalisation of the hospitals.
“Government should consider redirecting the resources allocated for the 24-Hour Market Centres towards the completion of the Agenda 111 hospitals. These are projects that are already far advanced and can quickly begin serving the healthcare needs of our people,” he said.
Asenso noted that billions of cedis have already been invested in the hospital projects, making it prudent for the government to focus on completing them rather than initiating fresh expenditure commitments.
According to him, unfinished projects often lead to cost overruns and deterioration of existing infrastructure, ultimately placing a greater financial burden on the state.
“We have invested heavily in Agenda 111. It would be more cost-effective and beneficial to complete these hospitals than to leave them uncompleted while starting new projects.”
Asenso Boakye further stressed that healthcare remains one of the most critical sectors requiring immediate attention, particularly in districts that currently lack adequate medical facilities.
He maintained that operationalising the hospitals would not only improve healthcare access but also create employment opportunities for health professionals and support staff.
The Agenda 111 programme, launched under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, was designed to address gaps in healthcare infrastructure through the construction of district, regional and specialised hospitals across the country.
However, several of the facilities are yet to be completed, prompting calls from sections of the public and political actors for additional funding to accelerate the projects.
The government’s proposed 24-Hour Economy initiative includes the establishment of modern market centres aimed at supporting round-the-clock economic activity and boosting productivity.
Supporters of the policy argue that it has the potential to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
Despite acknowledging the importance of economic transformation programmes, Asenso-Boakye insisted that completing critical healthcare infrastructure should take precedence.
“The health of our people must remain a top priority. Completing Agenda 111 hospitals will provide immediate and long-term benefits to communities across the country.”
