The Minister for Health Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has disclosed to Parliament that, the decision to demolish La General Hospital was hinged on the deteriorating conditions of the hospital.
He said the hospital was demolished to make way for a new 160-bed facility.
The Health Minister said this when he appeared before the house on Tuesday to answer questions on the La General Hospital demolition
The Minister assured the House that the contractor has shown enough commitment to start work and it is expected to be completed in 24 months.
According to him, the Finance Ministry had identified a local alternative source of funding for the project.
The Health Minister noted that the Finance Ministry has secured €50 million in local funding for the reconstruction of the La General Hospital.
“At the 37th session of the cabinet, the president directed the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Health and Finance to find alternative sources of funding to recommence the project. Through the efforts of the three-man committee, the Minister of Finance has now identified funds locally to continue the project with the same simple work scope but a reviewed price of 50 million Euro,” he said.
However, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu expressed his disappointment at the statement made by the health minister saying the statement failed to inspire confidence in the people of La and Ghanaians at large.
Also, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, dismissed the Health Minister’s claim, labelling it as deceptive, given the track record of unmet assurances.
In July 2020, the La General Hospital facility was demolished after the hospital’s administration, in 2015, reported severe structural problems. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on August 10, 2020, cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project.
