According to the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Finance Ministry has obtained €50 million in local funds for the restoration of the La General Hospital.
The hospital was razed in 2020 owing to structural flaws, but rehabilitation work has yet to commence.
Mr Agyemang-Manu told Parliament on Tuesday that the Finance Ministry has discovered a local alternative source of money 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.
The Health Minister stated that procedures were in place to ensure contractor payment and that work would begin in earnest soon.
The Minority in Parliament, on the other hand, chastised the Minister for failing to offer precise timetables for when construction on the project will restart.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, criticised the Health Minister’s assertion as dishonest, considering the track record of unfulfilled commitments.
In reaction to these charges, Agyemang-Manu defended the administration, claiming that his assertions were not an attempt to deceive the people.
“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.”
