Paga, Garu Agenda 111 hospital projects near completion
Two of the Agenda 111 hospital projects located in Garu in the Garu District and Paga in the Kassena Nankana West District in the Upper East Region are progressing steadily and nearing completion.
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Whereas that of Paga is currently about 70 per cent complete and expected to be handed over by December this year, that of Garu which is about 85 per cent complete is also expected to be ready and commissioned by the end of October this year.
Contractors working on both projects, who are currently on site, are making frantic efforts to complete both projects ahead of schedule so that the hospitals can be opened to provide the needed healthcare to the people.
Aside from Paga and Garu, six other districts benefitting from the Agenda 111 hospital projects in the region are Pusiga, Nabdam, Bolgatanga East, Tempane, Binduri and Builsa South, bringing the total to eight.
Visit
This came to light when a team from the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) visited the sites of both hospitals as part of a working visit to inspect some petroleum revenue-funded projects in the region last week.
PIAC is a statutory body established under section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), 2011, to provide additional oversight in the management and use of Ghana’s petroleum revenues.
The team, led by a representative of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at PIAC, Nana Kweku Dei, also included representatives of the Association of Ghana Industries, Edward Yaw Afriyie; the Ghana Bar Association, Yom Ama Abledu; a Technical Manager, Mark Agyemang; a senior administrative officer, Philomina Otabil, and an assistant administrative officer, Enock Baiden.
Paga
The Supervising Consultant at the site in Paga, Vincent Mewen, said so far all the superstructures had been done, while the contractors were currently working on the finishing works of the project.
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He said that external works, including the drainage systems, were also 70 per cent complete, including all other works that needed to be completed before the project could be officially handed over for use.
He said “the contractor is speedily working to meet the stipulated completion timeline and we are optimistic that it will be ready by the end of December this year.”
On challenges, he mentioned that due to the onset of the rains, getting materials to the site was very challenging, a development that continued to slow down the pace of work of the contractor on site.
He said funding was another challenge of the project and anytime certificates were tendered for payment, it took a longer time before such certificates were honoured and payment made.
He appealed to the government to address the undue delay in the release of funds to the contractor so that the project could be completed as scheduled.
Garu
The Project Manager of Starry Company Limited, John Kingsley Kwofie, said work was progressing steadily and that they were undertaking wiring of the entire buildings while about 90 per cent of road works had also been completed.
He was optimistic that the 60-bed hospital would be fully completed by the end of October this year to pave the way for its commissioning to serve the intended purpose of providing healthcare to the people.
In an interview, Nana Dei expressed the team’s delight at the progress and quality of work on the two projects, saying: “I must say we are impressed with what we have seen on the ground during our visit to these project sites, which are partly funded by petroleum revenue.”
Particularly, he stated that the current Paga hospital was too crowded and lacked the conducive environment for the delivery of proper healthcare and added that the new one would provide the needed working environment for the health workers to deliver on their mandate when completed.
On the concern that the hospitals were sited at the outskirts, he indicated that it was strategic and that when fully operational, they would serve as a growth pole, as development would move towards its location.
Release funds
Nana Dei, a former Editor, Daily Graphic, appealed to the government to make funds available to the contractors to complete the project for the benefit of the people, who in the absence of the facility were compelled to travel long distances to access health services.
He said: “I wish to caution that due to the importance of the Agenda 111 projects, they should not become part of the legacy of abandoned projects dotted across the entire country as a result of neglect by successive governments.”
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He mentioned that whether there would be a continuation of the current government or there would be a new government after the December polls, efforts must be put in place to ensure that all ongoing projects were completed.
Background
President Akufo-Addo launched the Agenda 111 project on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
The project covers the construction of 101 district hospitals and six regional hospitals in the newly created regions.
It includes the construction of a regional hospital in the Western Region, two psychiatric hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale and a redeveloped Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
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Facilities in the hospitals will include surgical theatres for maternity, obstetrics and gynaecology; female, male and paediatric wards, among others.
The projects are to ensure that Ghanaians have access to quality healthcare services irrespective of their geographical location.
Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh