€50m Secured For The Reconstruction Of La General Hospital-Health Minister

Government through the ministry of finance has secured €50 million from local sources to fund the reconstruction of the La General Hospital which was demolished some three years ago, Health minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has told Parliament.

The La General hospital was demolished in 2020 due to structural defects, but work on the reconstruction of the project has stalled since then.

Providing an update to Parliament on the state of the facility on Tuesday November 14, 2023, Mr Agyemang-Manu told the lawmakers that the Finance Ministry had identified a local alternative source of funding for the project.

“At the 37th session of the cabinet, the president directed the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Health and Finance to find alternative sources of funding to recommence the project. Through the efforts of the three-man committee, the Minister of Finance has now identified funds locally to continue the project with the same simple work scope but a reviewed price of 50 million Euro,” he said.

According to him, processes were underway to ensure payment of the contractor and that work would commence in earnest soon.

However, the re-assurances of the minister did not go down well with members of the Minority caucus of the House.

They accused the minister for yet failing to provide clear timelines on when actual work will resume on the project.

Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh dismissed the Health Minister’s claim, labelling it as deceptive, given the track record of unmet assurances.

Member of Parliament for Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah expressed disappointed at the ministers presentation which she described as a re-telling of the problem at hand.

She said several appeals and demonstration for the commencement of work has proven futile.

The minister in response to the claims defended the government, stating that his claims were not an attempt to deceive the public.

“We don’t intend to deceive anybody, we don’t, we pulled down the building with good intentions…but I’m very sure that we will work to give La the hospital that La deserves.”