Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, has denied allegations that contracts for hospital construction under the government’s Agenda 111 initiative were awarded unlawfully.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said during a press conference on Sunday that the contracts were “legally granted in accordance with approvals from the Public Procurement Authority.”
Each hospital will cost $16.88 million, with $12.88 million going toward building and $4 million going toward medical equipment.
On value-for-money of the projects, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said this was “about 50 percent of the cost of similar projects under the previous administration.”
“The claim therefore of inflated contracts is untrue and, we believe, politically trumped-up,” he added.
The concerns were expressed by Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the MP for South Dayi, who said that the Minority will reject the project due to the alleged illegal allocation of contracts, which he also claimed were overpriced.
Alex Segbefia, a former Health Minister, also questioned the government’s openness in financing for Agenda 111 hospitals.
Agenda 111 is the result of a commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure after the country’s experience with the coronavirus epidemic.
The aim is to build 111 new health facilities, including new regional hospitals, district hospitals, and mental institutions.
These hospital projects are consistent with the government’s goal to provide universal health care to all people and achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The projects are expected to be finished in 18 months, according to the administration.
On Tuesday, August 17, the President cut the sod for the project’s start at Trede in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.
So far, locations for 88 of the 111 hospitals have been found.
Over 200 contractors will be working on the project which has been allocated GHS 600.
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