The Former Health Minister Bernard Okoe-Boye has urged the Completion of over 100 Agenda 111 Health Facilities.
He emphasized the urgent need for the completion of these projects, describing it as a game-changing initiative in Ghana’s healthcare sector.
Dr. Okoe-Boye provided insight into the scale and ambition of the project, noting that the hospitals were designed to have different capacities depending on the land available in each district.
“The district ones were somewhere around a hundred-bed capacity, some 60, and others 90, depending on the availability of land in a district.’’
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye Former Health Minister
The objective, he said, was to ensure that every part of Ghana had a well-functioning district hospital capable of addressing the basic healthcare needs of citizens.
“The total estimated cost of the project, which considers civil works, medical gas systems, equipment, and everything, came to about $1,7 billion. And even the President mentioned in the end of SONA [that] the Akufo-Addo government, had committed over $4 billion or so in terms of IPC payments—that’s payments for work done.’’
“This is one of the few projects where we didn’t go for a loan. It’s not what we call loan programs or projects that normally function as EPCs, where you go for a loan, and as part of the loan, it will also come with a contractor to do it and all that. This one, it’s a GoG-sponsored program.’’
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye Former Health Minister
Dr. Okoe-Boye further explained that funding for the project was sourced from multiple streams, including the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), and other Government of Ghana (GoG) sources.
The Challenge of Inherited Projects and the Need for Completion
Dr. Okoe-Boye acknowledged the financial challenges associated with government transitions, stating;
“What we must understand is that when you inherit power, it’s not only fun and exciting—it’s a lot of hard work. The Akufo-Addo government was looking for the money to pay for these projects.’’
“I believe that one of the biggest opportunities President John Dramani Mahama has, is to find money and complete most of these projects. They are so special because they cover almost 90% of Ghana. So, if you’re a leader and you find money and complete them, a lot of Ghanaians will be happy for you.’’
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye Former Health Minister
Providing an update on the current status of the project, Dr. Okoe-Boye revealed that about 80% of the hospitals were at the “lintel level,” meaning they had reached advanced stages of construction, with some already roofed.
He cited specific locations where Agenda 111 hospitals were under construction, including Ningo-Prampram, Madina, Kasoa, and Ablekuma North, among others.
Dr. Okoe-Boye advised Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to closely engage with the finance minister in securing funds to complete the projects. He said;
“If President Mahama and my brother Akandoh want to make a lasting impact, my advice to him is that he should get close to the finance minister. He should make Ato Forson his best friend so that he will help him find money to complete most of these projects. It will be a big plus for their government.’’
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye Former Health Minister
Dr. Okoe-Boye also referenced recent public appeals urging the new government to complete the hospitals.
The completion of the agenda 111 project remains a crucial task for the new administration, with the potential to revolutionize healthcare accessibility across Ghana.
As Dr. Okoe-Boye pointed out, prioritizing the necessary funding will not only bring relief to millions of Ghanaians but will also serve as a major political achievement for the government.
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