|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
President John Dramani Mahama has criticised the previous Akufo-Addo administration over its handling of the Agenda 111 hospital projects, describing the simultaneous launch of 111 hospitals nationwide as imprudent and poorly executed.
He made the remarks during a meeting with the Northern Regional House of Chiefs on Friday, May 15, shortly before departing for Geneva for an international engagement.
“When the Agenda 111 hospitals… I don’t think it was a very prudent idea to start 111 hospitals at the same time. At least they should have been phased out,” he stated, questioning the strategic thinking behind launching all projects simultaneously.
President Mahama noted that while some projects had reached the foundation stage, overall execution suffered from serious issues, including poor contractor performance and concerns over value for money.
“With some of the projects, people took the mobilisation and never went to the site,” he revealed, adding that the government is pursuing defaulting contractors to recover funds and ensure accountability. “EOCO is going after them,” he assured the chiefs.
Despite his criticism, President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring Ghanaians ultimately benefit from the hospital projects. The government has reviewed the programme and will focus resources on completing 35 hospitals that are near completion, with additional funding in the next national budget for subsequent phases.
The restructuring plan also involves partnerships with faith-based health institutions, which will be encouraged to adopt some facilities to support their completion and operation.
“We’re inviting faith-based organisations that run hospitals to adopt some of the hospitals they think they can complete and bring into operation,” the President said.
The Agenda 111 initiative, launched as a major healthcare infrastructure expansion programme, has faced delays and criticism over stalled projects and rising costs, prompting the government’s renewed focus on phased completion and strategic partnerships.
Story by Efua Nessa
Source: Loco tv