Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, ranking Member on the Health Committee in Parliament, has disclosed that the minority is not opposed to the agenda 111 project initiated by government.
According to him, it is the duty of legislators to put government’s policies like Agenda 111 under scrutiny once they notice some inconsistencies which needs to be highlighted.
Mr Akandoh further explained that the minority is posing legitimate questions about the project, which will increase the number of health care facilities in the country.
“I have not heard anybody who is opposed to the construction of 111 hospitals. In any case, we have always made a point that there is even a need, if you do not even add more, to complete the abandoned hospitals in this country.
“So, I and on behalf of the Minority, we are in no way opposed to the construction of more hospitals. But as a government, if indeed you accept democracy, irrespective of how nice or ambitious a policy is, we would have to subject it to scrutiny, and when we do so you are insulting us?”
Mr Kwame Mintah Akandoh
Mr Akandoh made these remarks following statements made by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church who described critics of the Agenda 111 project as witches who seek to derail the government’s efforts.
Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante expressed his concern over the reception of the launched project by a section of the general public.
Following this, the Presbyterian Church moderator, rallied support for the initiative to improve healthcare delivery to the populace.
Scrutinize Agenda 111 project
Reacting to this, Mr Akandoh revealed that Rt. Rev. Prof. Mante does not fully grasp why people are scrutinising the project.
“It is not any private individual who is going to build hospitals for this country, it is the money of you and I that is going to be used, and therefore we have every right to raise legitimate questions. Just like he himself says, if they [government] are not able to build those hospitals, he will even lead the criticism.
“So, if there are any legitimate questions, I think that it is our right to raise those questions – especially when before the commencement of the programme, some monies have been spent and we don’t know where those monies went to”.
Mr Kwame Mintah Akandoh
Agenda 111, health infrastructure project
President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 17, launched the Agenda 111 project. The project is expected to cover the design, procurement, construction, equipping and commissioning of 101 District Hospitals, 6 Regional Hospitals in the newly created regions, as well as 1 Regional Hospital in the Western Region, 2 Psychiatric Hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale and a redeveloped Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
Also, the project is to ensure that Ghanaians nationwide have access to quality healthcare services and with the National Health Insurance Scheme, boost the provision of healthcare infrastructure and financial accessibility to healthcare.
Doctors, nurses and other health personnel will have accommodation in the hospitals to be constructed.
According to the Agenda 111 detailed document, the facilities that will be enjoyed by Ghanaians include, 4 state-of-the-art surgical theatres for maternity, obstetrics and gynaecology, a full complement of male, female, paediatric and isolation wards, among others.
According to government, on completion, the venture will be “the largest investment in Healthcare infrastructure in the country since independence”.
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