The Minister of Health has come under intense criticism over comments that work on the stalled La General Hospital will begin soon.
Without mincing words, MPs from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) criticised the Minister on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday November 14, 2024 as he failed to once again, give time lines on when exactly the project will commence.
According to our Parliamentary Correspondent, Komla Klutse, the minister said the contractor has mobilised materials to the site at a reduced cost of €50 million from the original €68 million.
“Mr Speaker, at the 37th session of cabinet, the president directed the Minister of Trade and Industry, Health and Finance to find alternative sources of funding to recommence the projects.
“Through the efforts of the three-man committee, the Minister for Finance has now identified funds locally to continue the projects with the same civil works scope, but a reduced price of €50 million,” he added.
Mr. Agyemang-Manu assured that the contractor will start work soon.
“The contractor indicates that once the funds hit the accounts, they will remobilise the site within one week. Mr. Speaker, it’s unfortunate I couldn’t get some of these things shown on the video, but there are materials on site worth over $8 million that the contractor has put there to commence work with.
In July 2020, the La General Hospital was demolished after the hospital’s administration in 2015 reported of severe structural problems.
President Akufo-Addo on August 10, 2020, cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project but work is yet to start.
Residents of la and its environs have been incensed in anger over the undue delay.
Government has been justifying the demolition and the subsequent delay.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Trade and Industry Minister, K.T. Hammond have in the past week contradicted themselves on exactly what has caused the delay in the project.