Government remains fully committed to completing the reconstruction of the La General Hospital within the next two years.
As a show of commitment, an allocation of GH¢130 million had been made in the 2025 budget to support the continuation of the project, which has stalled for some time due to financial constraints.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who gave this assurance, explained that one of the main challenges delaying the completion of the hospital was the absence of a dedicated funding source.
Unlike other health infrastructure projects financed through loans or grants, he said, the La General Hospital reconstruction depended solely on allocations from the national budget.
“There are some projects with dedicated funding sources, such as loans or grants, where once you inherit them, you simply continue.
This project is not one of those.
You have to make allocations from the national budget before any work can proceed,” the minister said when he embarked on an inspection tour on the project yesterday.
He disclosed that out of the €50 million total cost of the project, only about €7 million had so far been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of €43 million to be settled.
Mr Akandoh commended the contractors and workers for remaining on site despite the financial challenges and urged them to continue working while the government finalises arrangements for the release of funds.
“I am happy that the workers are still on site. I will personally monitor progress and ensure that they are paid on time.
Let’s all, in good faith, remain on site and continue the work while we pursue the payment process,” he said.
Project significance
Mr Akandoh underscored the strategic importance of the La General Hospital to the country’s healthcare system, especially within the Greater Accra Region.
He explained that the completion of the project would significantly reduce pressure on both the Ridge and the LEKMA hospitals, which currently serve large populations in the capital.
“This facility is very important because the area is densely populated.
When completed, it will help decongest Ridge and LEKMA hospitals and improve healthcare delivery within La and the surrounding communities,” he said.
The Contract Manager, Hilda Xiea, expressed appreciation for the renewed attention to the project, describing the visit as a motivation for the construction team.
“We are glad for your visit and all stakeholders for the attention to the La General Hospital project.
Your visit will motivate us to keep moving forward and serve as an encouragement for our work,” she said.
Ms Xiea noted, however, that work on the project had been suspended since October 25, 2024, due to outstanding payment issues.
“As the general contractor, we fully understand the importance and significance of this project.
Since October 25, 2024, we have not received any payment, yet we have made every effort to ensure steady progress on site.
Regretfully, after exhausting all possible resources, we have made the difficult decision to suspend work because of the payment issues,” she explained.
She added that although construction had been halted, personnel continued to visit the site regularly to safeguard materials and equipment.
