Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has urged contractors working on the La General Hospital project in Accra to accelerate construction, stressing that the facility must be completed ahead of its scheduled commissioning in January 2028.
During an inspection of the €50 million redevelopment project, Mr Akandoh acknowledged progress but challenged the contractors to intensify their work, dismissing payment delays as an excuse for slow execution. He also called for a review of the proposed emergency department capacity to ensure the hospital can adequately serve patients when it becomes operational.
“We can speed up so that we can beat the deadline”
Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
The Minister urged the contractors to work faster, highlighting the hospital’s importance to the large population expected to depend on its services. His remarks reflected the pressure to complete the redevelopment within the stated timeframe after years of uncertainty surrounding the facility.
He maintained that payment delays should not obstruct progress, explaining that government had been paying contractors on time. He also disclosed that the latest interim payment certificate had been submitted and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance.
The Minister’s comments placed the focus on construction delivery and the need for contractors to sustain progress as the January 2028 commissioning deadline approaches.
Emergency Department Capacity Under Review
Beyond construction timelines, Mr Akandoh called for a review of the proposed emergency department capacity, emphasising the need to ensure that the facility is designed to respond adequately to patient demand.
The proposed review is intended to help address challenges associated with the availability of emergency beds. The Minister’s intervention highlighted the importance of ensuring that the hospital’s capacity matches the healthcare needs it is expected to serve.
The €50 million project includes the provision and installation of medical equipment, making the delivery of the facility dependent not only on construction but also on the planned equipment package.
“ La General Hospital redevelopment must deliver adequate emergency care and essential medical services to meet the needs of the communities it serves.”
Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
Mr Akandoh pledged to continue monitoring the project until the hospital is completed and operational, signalling the government’s intention to maintain oversight as work advances.
La Hospital Reconstruction Follows Years of Delays
Construction has progressed following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive for the accelerated execution of the project. The redevelopment has faced prolonged delays since the original hospital was demolished in 2019 over reported structural defects.
Although plans to reconstruct the facility were initiated under the previous administration, the project did not make the expected progress before the government left office in January 2025.
The delays left residents of La and nearby communities awaiting the restoration of a major healthcare facility serving the area. The project has therefore attracted considerable public attention, particularly because of the uncertainty that followed the demolition of the original hospital.
The renewed push to accelerate construction comes as the government seeks to move the project towards completion and deliver the replacement facility within the announced schedule.
160-Bed Facility Expected to Restore Healthcare Services
The redeveloped La General Hospital is expected to have a capacity of 160 beds, providing space to accommodate patients and support healthcare delivery once the facility becomes operational.
Its completion is expected to restore an important healthcare resource for La and surrounding communities in Greater Accra. The planned installation of medical equipment will also form part of preparing the hospital to provide services after construction.
Mr Akandoh’s inspection and call for faster work place renewed emphasis on meeting the January 2028 commissioning target. His remarks also highlight the need to ensure that the proposed emergency department can respond to patient needs and that the completed facility is equipped to function effectively.
With the deadline approaching, the Minister has urged contractors to accelerate construction while government continues to monitor progress. The project’s completion remains central to restoring hospital services for communities that have waited several years since the original facility was demolished.
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