The Ministry of Health has revealed that none of the Agenda 111 hospital projects commissioned in 2024 were ready for use at the time of their inauguration.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsnight on Thursday, October 16, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Tony Goodman, said the facilities were rushed for commissioning by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration even though construction was incomplete.
He was responding to criticisms by former Health Minister Dr Bernard Okoe Boye on stalled hospital projects.
“According to him [Dr. Okoe Boye], we can employ nurses and doctors to work in the three Agenda 111 hospitals that were commissioned late last year. The truth is that none of these projects that were commissioned were actually ready to be used. They were rushed for commissioning,” Mr. Goodman stated.
He explained that while some of the projects had reached between 80% and 95% completion, none were in a condition to begin operations.
“We went to Bawku, Cherede, and Oforikrom, and I can tell you on authority that none of these projects are functioning,” he added.
Mr. Goodman further disclosed that under the current administration, the Agenda 111 initiative has been moved from the Office of the President to the Ministry of Health, allowing for closer oversight and auditing.
“Now that it’s under the Ministry of Health, we are auditing them. The first three draft reports we’ve received even mention these same projects—and none of them can be used as they stand now,” he said.
Read also: Okoe Boye demands update on Agenda 111 projects, says no progress made under current gov’t
He also took a swipe at former Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, suggesting that during his tenure, he failed to ensure that Agenda 111 projects were properly monitored or integrated into the Ministry’s work.
“The period he served at the Ministry can be compared to the current minister’s tenure, and if you look at the work this minister is doing, you’ll realise that if he [Okoe Boye] had done the same, the health sector would have moved forward. He didn’t do anything. He didn’t see the need to bring Agenda 111 to the Ministry so he could monitor their progress,” Mr. Goodman remarked.
His comment comes after former Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, called on the incumbent Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to provide a full and transparent update on the status of all hospitals under construction as part of the Agenda 111 project.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 16, Dr Okoe Boye accused the current administration of failing to continue hospital projects initiated under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, warning that the neglect of these facilities is undermining Ghana’s healthcare system.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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