Juaboso lawmaker Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has accused the government of misapplying the funds meant for the La General Hospital Project in Accra.
The hospital was pulled down in 2020 for reconstruction.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for commencement of reconstruction project.
At the sod cutting ceremony on Tuesday, 10th August 2020, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the redevelopment project had been occasioned by a report from the Ghana Health Service, which indicated that the five-storey structure of the Hospital had developed gaping cracks, which made the facility unfit for use.
Furthermore, the unplanned nature of the entire hospital campus required that it be re-organised so that it can function efficiently as a 21st century hospital, which will serve the needs of residents of La and its adjoining communities.
With Government’s policy of achieving Universal Health Coverage for all, which demands that access to decent healthcare is guaranteed for every Ghanaian, no matter where they live, the President explained that this is the reason why Government had to source quickly the requisite funding to embark on the redevelopment of the Hospital, in view of its strategic location in our nation’s healthcare delivery system.
“This facility, in so many ways, complements the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, and its upgrading will serve most people from Osu through La and Teshie, as well as residents living along the coastal corridor of Accra,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “Indeed, with admissions to this Hospital, arising from maternal health and other related complications, increasing from 20.5% in 2008, to 30% in 2017, and with pregnancy and related conditions, for the first time in the history of the life of this Hospital, being the number one cause of admission, require that we improve rapidly the facilities of this hospital”.
This redevelopment project is being financed by a credit facility from Standard Chartered Bank of the United Kingdom, with an export credit guarantee from Sinosure of the People’s Republic of China, to the tune of sixty eight million euros (€68 million), with an insurance cover of three million, eight hundred and sixty thousand euros (€3,860,349.18).
The project was be undertaken by the Chinese company, Poly Changda, which had wide-ranging experience in China and other parts of Africa in the construction of healthcare facilities.
Speaking to journalists after inspecting the site on Friday March 4, Mr Akandoh said ” As for the minister the least talked about the better because he has proven to the whole country that he is incompetent.
“It could also be that they have used the money for other things. If indeed they have not misapplied the money they should come to site and start the work.”
Source: 3news.com|Ghana