By Regina Kwapong
The Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, recently shared some insights on the progress made on the Agenda 111 project on GBC’s Breakfast show on September 14, 2023.
This project aims to construct various healthcare facilities across the country, including 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals, two specialized hospitals, a regional hospital in the Western Region, and the renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
Dr. Asare mentioned that 88 of the sites are currently under construction and at different stages of completion.
” 88 of the sites are actively working at different stages of the construction”, he said.
Dr. Asare explained that the redevelopment of the regional hospitals and the Accra psychiatric hospitals are undergoing a process for external funding called external procurement construction and funding.
He mentioned that all contractors go through the Ministry of Finance and subsequently to the Cabinet for parliamentary approval because of the external funding involved.
Dr. Asare also noted that limited or none availability of land has hindered the progress of projects in some selected areas.
For example, areas like Nungua, Darkuman, and Korle Klottey have not provided the required 15 acres of land for the project, while some lands provided are less than the 15 acres needed.
However, the design plans are flexible to accommodate the available land and still make progress.
Dr. Asare highlighted the topography of the land and the nature of the environment as additional challenges faced during the Agenda 111 project.
He cited Adeiso, which has many rocky areas, prompting the need for a redesign of the land before construction could take place. Certain locations required excavation of topsoil, filling, and testing to ensure the soil quality meets the required standards for such huge projects.
Despite these hindrances, Dr. Asare assured Ghanaians that the Agenda 111 project has made significant progress and is still moving forward.
