The construction of the Agenda 111 60-bed capacity hospital projects by the government is progressing steadily in at least 88 districts across the country.
The first facility at Trede in the Atwima Kwanwoma District in the Ashanti Region is over 60 per cent complete. The project is gradually taking shape with most of the physical structures erected. Some districts have encountered challenges in acquiring suitable land for construction, which has raised doubts about the government’s commitment to the project.
But Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah maintains the government remains committed to completing the projects, indicating that the contracts for some of the hospital projects, which have fallen behind schedule, have been terminated and re-awarded.
“The brief I have is that 88 are currently under construction and it is grouped into eight zones and in those eight zones, you will find 54 projects. We have visited 33 sites so far and we thought that coming to Trede, where it all began, it is important to showcase from Trede all that has gone on so far.
“We have also provided you with the reports of the sites that we have visited so far, the majority of them that are doing well, the few of them that are behind schedule. We have also updated you on the ones that we have had to terminate because they are behind schedule.”
Progress
Dr Nsiah-Asare said the monitoring team has, so far, visited 33 out of the 54 project sites and expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at all the sites.
On average, he said, most of the contractors have done about 52 per cent of work on all the project sites visited and, was hopeful that by the end of the year, the majority of them would be completed and commissioned.
So far, he said the Trede project was the one at an advanced level of completion with “62 per cent” of work completed. “We are sure of commissioning it by the end of the year [2023].”
Dr Nsiah Asare explained that even though most of the contracts were expected to be completed within 18 months, there were some delays due to some contractual issues but gave the assurance that the majority of the projects would be completed within the reign of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Agenda 111 project
The Ghana Health Infrastructure Project better known as the Agenda 111 project consists of the construction of 101 district hospitals in areas without district hospitals and the construction of two psychiatric hospitals for the middle and the southern belts, seven regional hospitals and the rehabilitation of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. Works were yet to start on the psychiatric hospitals for the middle and northern belts.
Caution
Dr Nsiah-Asare has cautioned contractors working on the projects to speed up work or risk having their contracts terminated.
He said the government would not tolerate any delay on the project and called on the contractors working on the various projects to keep to the timelines.
Already, three contractors working in the Ashanti Region have had their contracts abrogated for failing to meet the key performance indicators.
“We won’t shy away from terminating the contract if a contractor fails to meet the performance indicators,” he warned.
Abandoned
He debunked the claims that the projects have been abandoned due to non-availability of funds. He explained that due to the importance of the project, the government set up a special-purpose vehicle to prosecute the projects. So far, he said all the contractors who have submitted their certificates have been paid for the work done.
Ashanti Region
He said the projects have been zoned into eight zones and the Ashanti region falls into Zone 8 and is benefiting from 17 out of the 111 projects. While works have started on most of the projects within the region, he said some of the districts were yet to start due to some challenges with the land.
As a result, he said the projects had to be redesigned from a single stack to a double stack storey building to make use of the available land.
He cited Asokore-Mampong, Bantama and Kwabenakwa as some of these districts having challenges with land for the project.
Notwithstanding the redesigning, he said all the projects would have the same facilities as the rest.
Jobs and training
The former Director General of Ghana Health Services said when completed, each facility would provide employment to not less than 100 health workers and indirect employment of 100 others and also create other businesses in the health value chain for the surrounding communities.
Again, he said the new facilities would also serve as a training ground for health workers and expand access to healthcare in the country.
Background
The president on August 17, 2021, cut the sod for the construction of the Agenda 111 hospital project.
Each hospital facility is planned as a single-story campus featuring Patient Reception & Processing, Administration, Pharmacy, Labs / Diagnostics, OPD, Physiotherapy, Public Health, Accident & Emergency, Surgical Ward, Paediatric Ward, Maternity Ward, Isolation Ward and four state of the art theatre for surgery.
There are provisions for a mortuary, waiting and security pavilions, accommodation facility for families and doctors (separated), laundry, waste management and energy centre, kitchen, central store and maintenance yard.
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH
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