The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has disclosed that none of the hospitals under the Agenda 111 programme is currently operational despite about GH¢4.8 billion being spent on the initiative by the previous administration.
Appearing before Parliament’s Assurances Committee on Thursday, July 9, the Minister said the government inherited more than GH¢1 billion in unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) owed to contractors, while none of the facilities were ready to provide healthcare services.
Mr Akandoh said the government has identified 35 Agenda 111 projects for completion and has directed contractors to return to their respective sites to continue work.
However, he declined to provide timelines for the completion of the projects, explaining that some contracts may have to be terminated and repackaged before work can proceed.
“Mr Chairman, I do not want to give specific dates because maybe there are others who may even have to terminate and repackage. If I give you any date, I’ll be called back before the committee to answer questions,” he said.
The Minister noted that the 2026 Budget made provision for work to commence on 10 of the identified projects, which form part of the 35 selected for completion.
He said some contractors had already returned to site, while efforts were underway to settle outstanding payments owed to others.
“We have also started processing the IPCs so that we will pay the contractors, get them money to go back to the site and continue the project,” he stated.
Mr Akandoh said although GH¢4.8 billion had been spent on the Agenda 111 programme, none of the hospitals could currently provide healthcare services.
“About GH¢4.8 billion was spent on Agenda 111, but unfortunately, we don’t have a single one of them that could save a life today,” he said.
During the hearing, members of the committee sought clarification on the operational status of the hospitals, pointing out that some facilities had previously been commissioned.
Responding to a question on how many Agenda 111 hospitals were functional, the Minister replied, “Zero.”
He maintained that although about three facilities were commissioned under the previous administration, they had not been completed or fully equipped to operate.
“About three were commissioned while they were not completed. They had not installed the full complement of the equipment needed to run the facilities,” he said.
Mr Akandoh further alleged that temporary arrangements were made to facilitate the commissioning ceremonies.
“In some cases, generators were carried to the site for the commissioning, and after the commissioning, they were taken back, and the place was locked,” he claimed.
The Health Minister stressed that a hospital should only be commissioned after construction has been completed, the facility has been handed over to the Ministry, and it is fully equipped and ready to provide healthcare services.
He insisted that the current administration did not inherit any Agenda 111 hospital that was fully completed, staffed and operational.
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