The long-awaited reconstruction of the La General Hospital has finally begun, but it’s been a journey marred by delays and controversy. According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) played a significant role in stalling the project.
Speaking to reporters in Accra, Dr. Okoe-Boye assured the public that efforts to rebuild the facility have resumed, despite significant financial challenges. He emphasized that the programme disrupted the government’s plans for the project, causing significant delays.
“The impact of the debt exchange programme was felt across many sectors, including healthcare. Because of the debt exchange programme, many finance houses, when we got into the global financial crisis, pulled away from the arrangements and that is why La General stalled.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister of Health
The government’s inability to rebuild the hospital immediately after its demolition sparked widespread public backlash. Several stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and residents of La, expressed frustrations over the delay, as the hospital had been a critical healthcare facility in the region.
The hospital was demolished in July 2020, following reports from its administration about severe structural defects that posed a danger to both staff and patients.
In his remarks, Dr. Okoe-Boye explained that the La General Hospital project was significantly affected by the DDEP, which was introduced as part of broader measures to address Ghana’s financial crisis.
Dr. Okoe-Boye noted that the government had been exploring alternative funding sources after realizing the financial commitments initially secured for the hospital’s redevelopment were no longer viable.
“President Akufo-Addo called the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and said if the debt exchange will slow it, we will have to find money to pay from GoG [Government of Ghana],” Dr. Okoe-Boye disclosed.
Government-Funded Construction Underway
Despite the financial challenges posed by the DDEP, Dr. Okoe-Boye expressed satisfaction that reconstruction efforts have now resumed. The project is being entirely funded by the Government of Ghana using taxpayer funds, and the estimated cost of the redevelopment stands at €50 million.
“I am happy to announce that La General now is being built from the coffers of the government of Ghana with our taxpayers’ money,” Dr. Okoe-Boye stated, reaffirming the government’s commitment to completing the facility. He further assured the public that all necessary resources have been allocated to ensure the project is delivered within the stipulated time frame.
The La General Hospital Redevelopment Project officially broke ground on August 10, 2020, when President Nana Akufo-Addo cut the sod to mark the beginning of construction. The facility had long served the residents of La and surrounding communities, and its closure left a significant gap in healthcare service provision.
After the demolition, the hospital’s structural issues were cited as the reason for the urgent need to rebuild, but progress stalled due to the financial challenges.
Years of public complaints over the delayed reconstruction were met with assurances, but construction finally commenced in January 2024, nearly four years after the initial demolition.
The new facility, once completed, will be an ultra-modern hospital designed to provide top-tier healthcare services to the community. It will have a 160-bed capacity, alongside a residential block to accommodate key hospital staff, ensuring round-the-clock healthcare availability.
Dr. Okoe-Boye emphasized the importance of this project, stating, “We believe that this new facility will not only meet the current needs of our patients but also set a standard for future healthcare infrastructure development in Ghana.”
With the government now directly funding the project, there is renewed hope that the La General Hospital will finally become a reality, bringing much-needed healthcare improvements to the people of Accra and beyond.
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