Gov’t is not completing hospital projects in Ashanti for political gains – Dr Okoe Boye

The Health Minister, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, has dismissed assertions that the government is eager to complete hospital projects in the Ashanti Region for political gains.

According to him, the construction of such health facilities requires planning and a budget to execute.

He explained that the hospitals are part of the government’s Agenda 111 project, which was launched in August 2021.

“I had to read this to remind all of us that good things don’t happen in a day. They happen over a period. This reminder is important because we are in an election year.

“So that if you see a facility like this being commissioned in September and God willing in October people entering to have access, remember that it was birthed or conceived way back in 2020. Twelve of such facilities,” he said.

He made these comments while touring the region on Wednesday, June 26.

Dr Okoe Boye assured that the government will see to the completion of the Suame and Sewuah Hospitals by September this year.

“Ashanti is privileged to have had close to half of the bed capacity for these twelve projects,” he said.

On August 17, President Akufo-Addo launched the Agenda 111 project.

The project covers the design, procurement, construction, equipping and commissioning of 101 district hospitals, 6 regional hospitals in the six newly created regions, as well as 1 Regional Hospital in the Western Region, 2 Psychiatric Hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale, and a redeveloped Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The project is to ensure that Ghanaians nationwide have access to quality healthcare services and with the National Health Insurance Scheme, boost the provision of healthcare infrastructure and financial accessibility to healthcare.Doctors, nurses and other health personnel will have accommodation in the hospitals to be constructed.

According to the Agenda 111 detailed document, the facilities that will be enjoyed by Ghanaians include 4 state-of-the-art surgical theatres for maternity, obstetrics and gynaecology, a full complement of male, female, pediatric and isolation wards, among others.

According to the government, on completion, the venture will be “the largest investment in healthcare infrastructure in the country since independence.”