A United States-based Economist, Dr Sa-ad Iddrisu, has honestly stated that people like him have completely given up on the NPP government long ago as far as the party’s ability to provide solutions to the country’s economic challenges is concerned.
The astute Economist, through a social media post, indicated that the behavior of the Akufo-Addo-led government towards the people of Ghana can only be likened to a group of ‘goro boys’ in serious business and it seems nothing can stop them.
“I have given up all hope on this Nana Addo’s government to make living conditions better for citizens. This government is behaving like goro boys looking for every opportunity to milk the state and give excuses for their inability to deliver on promises they made to Ghanaians. It’s like you paying a goro boy to secure you a passport, only for him to cash out on you and start giving you excuses for his inability to deliver. Almost every day is some new ‘stupidity’ and corruption under this government”.
Dr Sa-ad Iddrisu
Dr. Sa-ad said that “the government has basically found excuse for every failure and the current excuses given by the minister for government inability to meet the Agenda 111 project, is unacceptable”.
Dr. Sa-ad Iddrisu, professor in the Economics department at Wayne State University, was reacting to a statement made by the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu who stated that, land litigations are affecting the implementation of the Agenda 111 project and that the government is working hard to ensure that these challenges are addressed to enable the project move on smoothly.
The Agenda 111 project
President Nana Akufo Addo on Tuesday August 17, 2021 commissioned the Agenda 111 project which will ensure the construction of 111 hospitals across the country.
During the commission of the project in Trede in the Ashanti Region, the President said, among other things, that the project will be providing 20,000 jobs for health professionals when completed.
Meanwhile, Government announced that it has secured US$100 million start-up fund through the Ghana Investment Infrastructure Fund (GIIF) for the commencement of works on ‘Agenda 111’ district, specialized and regional hospitals across the country.
The Project Implementation Committee chaired by Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, disclosed last year that government has secured sites and land titles for 88 out of the 101 district hospitals and each unit would cost US$17 million, covering 15 acres.
Per Government’s projections, each hospital is expected to be completed within 12 months, starting from the point of commencement.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, speaking at the Minister’s briefing in Accra, said since the President announced the Project in April last year, the Committee had undertaken some activities, including securing project consultants and contractors.
The Agenda 111 project includes 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals in the newly created regions, two specialised hospitals in the middle and northern belts, as well as a regional hospital in the Western Region and renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
The objective of the Project is to significantly deepen delivery of quality healthcare at the district level, boost access to healthcare services for all citizens towards ensuring the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Three.
