The Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has reaffirmed government’s determination to complete the reconstruction of the La General Hospital within the next two years, following years of delays caused by funding challenges.
Speaking during a working visit to the project site in Accra, the Minister said the government, under the leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, is committed to ensuring that no ongoing project particularly in the health sector is left unfinished.
He explained that the project, which began in 2020, has faced challenges due to the absence of a dedicated source of funding such as a loan or grant. As a result, allocations have to be made annually through the national budget to sustain progress.
“This project has gone through some history. The first arrangement didn’t go through, and we had to fall on an alternative. There’s no dedicated funding source, so we have to make allocations in the national budget before money is released,” Hon. Akandoh stated.
The Minister disclosed that the project is estimated to cost 50 million euros, out of which about 7 million euros has so far been paid, leaving a balance of approximately 43 million euros. A total of ₵30 million has been earmarked in the 2025 national budget to support ongoing works.
He further noted that the second Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) had been raised and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for processing.
“We’ve done follow-ups with the Ministry of Finance, and the Minister for Finance is committed to ensuring that funds are released for this project to progress. We will ensure that in the next budget, allocations are made for the project to continue. We’re not going to abandon this site — we’ll follow it through until it’s completed,” he emphasized.
He added that once completed, the facility will help ease pressure on nearby hospitals such as Ridge Hospital and LEKMA Hospital while boosting healthcare delivery and economic activity in the La area.
The Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who accompanied the Minister on the visit, expressed delight at the work and assured residents that the project would soon be completed.
Hon. Sowah revealed that several follow-ups had been made with the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payments to the contractor to sustain momentum.
She described the progress as a “happy new year gift” for the people of La, commending the NDC administration led by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for its commitment to the health needs of the people.
The General Manager of the construction firm, Ms. Hilda Xiea expressed appreciation for the government’s renewed attention to the project but appealed for an urgent resolution of the outstanding payment issues to enable the resumption of full-scale work
“Since October 25, 2024, we have made every effort to ensure steady progress on site despite not receiving payments. However, after exhausting all possible resources, we had to make the difficult decision to suspend work because of payment issues,” she explained.
Ms. Xiea said the company had duly informed both the project consultant and the Ministry of Health about the suspension and continues to deploy personnel to safeguard the site and protect completed works.
She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering a modern, fully functional medical facility that would improve healthcare services for residents of La and its adjoining communities.
Background
The reconstruction of the La General Hospital, originally initiated in 2020, forms part of government’s broader effort to expand healthcare infrastructure nationwide. But, the project faced setbacks during the previous administration.
Once completed, the facility is expected to reduce the patient load on major hospitals within the Greater Accra Region and enhance access to quality healthcare for thousands of residents.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
