The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has stated that the government currently lacks the financial resources to complete the stalled Agenda 111 hospital projects, a flagship initiative of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

His comments have sparked fresh concerns over the future of the ambitious project, which was launched to enhance healthcare accessibility, particularly in underserved regions.

Akandoh attributed the funding shortfall to what he described as the failure of the NPP administration to allocate financial resources for the completion of the hospitals before leaving office.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, March 10, he lamented the initiative’s stalled progress and reiterated that the government does not have the necessary funds to continue work on the uncompleted facilities.

“When John Dramani Mahama was leaving office and there were some ongoing health projects, we left money behind. Once you are leaving behind the uncompleted project, you leave money for the completion. We don’t have a Pesewa as I speak to you now to finish these projects because there was no reliable and dedicated sources of funding.”

Agenda 111, launched in August 2021 under the NPP government, was designed to construct 111 hospitals across Ghana, including 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals, two psychiatric hospitals, and the redevelopment of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The initiative aimed to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery, particularly in districts without hospitals, and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Despite its ambitious scope, the project has faced significant delays due to financial constraints, land acquisition issues, and logistical challenges.

Initial projections estimated that each hospital would cost approximately $17 million, with an expected completion timeline of 18 months. However, nearly three years later, many of the projects remain incomplete or have barely progressed beyond the foundational stages.

Sompaonline.com