Bright Amissah, President of Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, has questioned the source of funding for government’s construction of the Agenda 111 project.
According to him, government hasn’t given ample information on how the project will be undertaken without due diligence done.
In reacting to President’s Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare’s revelation that government of Ghana will fund the Agenda 111 project, Mr Amissah explained that government should come out with a better explanation on the source of funding for the project.
“It’s still not enough to say government of Ghana will fund it. Now where are we going to raise all the money within the year? Look at the stipulated time, 12 to 18 months period. Are we able to raise that budget to fund these to its final completion? These are the critical questions that we are asking. So, if you come to say government will fund it, it’s just not enough”.
Bright Amissah
Additionally, Mr Amissah revealed that government must also provide detailed report on how the funds would to be raised to ensure subsequent completion of the project.
“Are we mobilizing the funds domestically? Are we giving partners to support and all that? So he is supposed to come clear on that. To us we are not just satisfied to say that it is GOG project and it ends there”.
Bright Amissah
Health Ministry not to coordinate Agenda 111
Furthermore, Mr Amissah probed why the Agenda 111 project has been handed over to a different body to coordinate aside the Health Sector.
He insisted that the Health Ministry is well able to offer technical expertise and personnel to execute the Agenda 111 hospitals project.
“It is really a big deal to us as we have the health sector. I believe they should have coordinated this and talking about flagship programmes by government, government has made a lot of flagship pronouncements in the past years. The free SHS was one, Tema Interchange, the Pokuase and all those things. It’s about four interchanges that at the same time was going on, it was a flagship programme. The 1D1F was one of them and they were all initiated under sector Ministries who were doing the same work. So, what is unique about Agenda 111 that it has to be coordinated by a different body?”
Bright Amissah
Government to fund Agenda 111
Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 revealed that the Agenda 111 hospitals project will be funded by government.
He explained that the project is going through the procurement processes and will soon be put before Parliament.
“What we are going to do, government is going to fund it. And I am sure somebody will ask, where we are going to get the money from? But where there is a will, there is a way.
“The project coordinating committee, through the lead consultant and the consultancy team, has now put down the payment plan, the cash flow, how much money will be given from day one and every month; how much we will need?
“We are going through the procurement processes. I am sure it’s gone to Cabinet. It will go to Parliament and then the contractors will come to site and do it as a turnkey project”.
Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare
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