The Minority Spokesperson on Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has described as empty, a statement by Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, to the effect that reconstruction of the La General Hospital will start soon.
According to him, the Health Minister’s statement provides little assurance regarding the government’s commitment to successfully complete the project.
“Mr Speaker by the actions and inactions of the government, it clearly means that they are not committed to the project.”
His remarks followed Mr Agyeman-Manu’s assurance in Parliament on Tuesday, November 14 that works on the La General Hospital will commence soon. It is the second time that he is giving the assurance after the facility was pulled down over safety concerns.
The Health Minister did not provide a specific timeline for the commencement of the project but revealed that the project cost has been revised from €68 million to €50 million.
Also read: Works on La General Hospital to commence soon – Health Minister
The Health Minister, also Dormaa Central Member of Parliament (MP) stated “Mr Speaker, at the 37th session of Cabinet, the president directed the Minister of Trade and Industry, Health and Finance to find alternative sources of funding to recommence the projects.
“Through the efforts of the three-man committee, the Minister for Finance has now identified funds locally to continue the projects with the same civil works scope, but a reduced price of €50 million.”
Mr. Akandoh expressed discomfort with the Health Minister’s remarks, pointing out that the suspension of the La General Hospital project was attributable to insurance-related issues which the Health Ministry failed to address.
“So, as we speak, I thought that the minister was coming to tell us that they have money and contractors are going to site. We were prepared to hear this positive news, only to come and tell us clearly [that] the government is even uncertain about when the project is even going to start,” Mr Akandoh stressed.
But the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh disagreed with Mr Akandoh’s remarks, emphasising that the government empathises with the people of La and all the challenges they have gone through.
He reiterated the Health Minister’s assurance, saying the government is committed to doing everything possible to complete the project.
“It is going to be done. You can see the Minister of Finance seated here. The concerns about La General Hospital is part of the reason why the Minister of Finance is here so stay calm and don’t worry.
“I tell you next week by this time, the Member of Parliament will probably come under Order 72 and make a statement to both commend the government and to commend the Minister,” Mr Dompreh assured.
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