The construction work on 88 healthcare facilities under the government's Agenda 111 Hospital Project is underway and progressing steadily and all will be completed by the end of 2024, said Ghana's Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
The minister made his remarks at a press conference during his visit to the construction site in Trede, located 199 km northwest of Accra. He emphasized the significance of this particular site, recalling that Trede is the place "where it all began."
In August 2021, President Nana Akufo-Addo inaugurated the construction of the facilities, holding the groundbreaking ceremony in Trede, with a promise to complete the work within 18 months.
Nkrumah pointed to the progress made so far, noting that his inspection team had already visited 33 sites. He added that "the majority of them are doing well," and are expected to be completed on time.
"We have started the exercise of visiting the 88 of the Agenda 111 projects currently under construction," Nkrumah said, adding: "The projects are progressing steadily, albeit with some challenges. Forty-five of them have been encouraged to finish civil works before this year is over, looking at the progress of work."
The minister further elaborated that three projects had been terminated "for failing to meet standards" and falling behind schedule. Nkrumah also noted that some districts had faced challenges in terms of acquiring land for construction, and other organizational issues.
"However, the government remains confident that all the hospitals will be completed before the end of President Akufo-Addo’s second term," he reiterated.
The plan to build the hospitals was first announced by the president in April 2020, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation. The project was initially called “Agenda 88,” but then 23 additional health facilities were included, bringing the total number of hospitals to over 100.
The initiative involves the construction or upgrading of 101 district hospitals, construction of six regional hospitals in the new regions, created after the 2018 referendum, as well as two specialized hospitals, a regional hospital in the Western Region, and renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
According to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the government embarked on the project to ensure that "every district has a hospital and every region has a regional hospital." He noted that the initiative is intended to increase access to healthcare, prevent avoidable deaths, and "reduce the suffering" of Ghanaians. It is also expected that upon completion, the health facilities will create employment opportunities for nurses, and thus contribute to the country's economic development.