Kwabena Nyarko, consultant for the Agenda 111 project, is optimistic that the hospitals earmarked under the initiative will be completed on time to enhance health-care delivery across the country.
The project which commenced simultaneously at 88 sites across the country on Tuesday (17 August) seeks to bridge health infrastructure gaps following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking with Nana Yaa Mensah on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (18 August), Nyarko said: “I come to this project with a background both in hospitals and also in real estate, so I definitely have a clear understanding of the task ahead.”
He added: “So far we have put together a team … there are 20 different consulting firms that are involved in this project, and we’ve co-ordinated all the work of all these consulting firms to date and we are transitioning into what we will call the post-contract phase.
“The programme is on course. We will deliver the hospitals. There is a strong commitment from the government to fund it and I believe Ghanaians will be the beneficiaries and will see the benefits of these hospitals in the local communities.”
Touching on funding and timelines, the consultant said: “We are looking at three years, so it is going to go over a three-year budget and the government has committed US$100 million as seed money …there is further provision for the programme as we go along.”
The project’s objectives
The main objective of the project as set out by President Akufo-Addo is to ensure that Ghanaians in every district and region of the country have access to quality health-care services.
The Agenda 111 project, together with the National Health Insurance Scheme, is expected to boost both provision of health-care infrastructure and the financial accessibility of health care, in line with the government’s commitment to ensure universal health care for all citizens and attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3).
On completion, the hospitals will fulfil the government’s health policy of a hospital in each district and region.
The process of making good on the deliverables will also create a model of accelerated construction for health facilities which can be developed for future health projects.
Scope of works
The Ministry of Health says the Agenda 111 project will cover the following deliverables: design, procurement, construction, equipping and commissioning of 101 district hospitals, six regional hospitals in the newly created regions (Bono, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah and Western North), as well as one new regional hospital in the Western Region, two psychiatric hospitals (Kumasi and Tamale) and redevelopment of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
The Western Region will also benefit from rehabilitation of Effia Nkwanta Hospital.
All of the hospitals are expected to have a complement of staff accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers.
Fred Dzakpata
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