$1.7 billion needed to complete about 90 Agenda 111 hospitals — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that little to no progress was made on the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s Agenda 111 hospital project, leaving nearly 90 hospitals unfinished.

According to the President, an estimated $1.7 billion will be required to complete the uncompleted hospitals.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the Christian Council in Accra on Monday, February 24, Mr. Mahama noted that some of the hospitals claimed to have been commissioned are non-functional.

“And so many of them, almost 90 hospitals, we need $1.7 billion to be able to complete the hospitals. The one that they said they commissioned, there’s nothing in it—just one hospital. They finished the structure, but there’s not even a bed in the hospital,” he said.

He further mentioned that the government is exploring ways to address the issue.

“We discussed it a bit in cabinet, but the Minister of Health is going to come with a paper to see what we do. I believe that if some of the missions are interested, we could get them to finish the hospital, manage it, and provide the service,” Mr. Mahama added.

Agenda 111 was launched by President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, with the goal of constructing 101 district hospitals and six regional hospitals in the newly created regions.

The project also includes the construction of a regional hospital in the Western Region, two psychiatric hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale, and the redevelopment of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

Facilities in the hospitals were planned to include surgical theatres for maternity, obstetrics, and gynaecology, as well as female, male, and paediatric wards, among others.

The initiative aimed to ensure that Ghanaians have access to quality healthcare services regardless of their geographical location.