Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, a Pharmacist and Research Fellow at the Ghana Cent for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has called on the incoming president, John Dramani Mahama, to audit the various Agenda 111 projects nationwide.
He alleged that funds allocated for the construction of hospitals were mismanaged by those entrusted with building the facilities.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, Dr Asiedu expressed his hope that Mr Mahama would prioritise the country’s health sector and begin by investigating what went wrong in constructing the much-publicised Agenda 111 hospitals nationwide.
“My recommendations are simple: he (Mr Mahama) should audit all the funds that have been allocated to the Agenda 111 projects to date,” he said.
He also urged Mr Mahama to audit the lands allocated for the construction of these facilities, as he believes that some of the land acquired has not been used for its intended purpose—the construction of the Agenda 111 health facilities.
“He should also look into all the lands taken for Agenda 111 projects and liaise with state institutions to determine whether the lands have been used for their intended purpose. If not, he should investigate who currently holds these lands,” Dr Asiedu added.
During the discussion which was focus on the state of Agenda 111, Dr Asiedu also claimed that a piece of land belonging to the Ghana Prisons Service, located near Roman Ridge in Accra and spanning five acres, was seized by the government for the construction of on of the hospitals but was never used. He alleged that some government officials had taken the land for personal use, rather than for its intended purpose.
As of August 2024, the outgoing government revealed that it had spent $312 million on the Agenda 111 projects.
The Agenda 111 initiative, launched by President Nana Akufo-Addo, aims to expand healthcare services in the country. Districts without major hospitals or adequate health facilities are set to benefit from the project. The government plans to construct a total of 111 hospitals across the country, with an estimated budget of $176 billion.
However, many of the projects across the country remain incomplete, with some still at the foundation stage in various districts, and most are less than 70% finished.
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