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Gov’t requires $1.7 billion to complete Agenda 111 projects – Mahama reveals
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama says his administration will require a whopping $1.7 billion to complete the unfinished Agenda 111 hospital projects initiated by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo-led administration.
President Akufo-Addo launched the Agenda 111 project on Tuesday, August 17, 2021. The project covers the construction of 101 district hospitals and six regional hospitals in the newly created regions.
The Agenda 111 hospital projects in Ghana were scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. However, only 21 out of the 111 hospitals are said to have been completed so far.
Addressing some members from the Christian Council during a meeting in Accra, President Mahama bemoaned that nearly 90 of the hospitals remain uncompleted, with some lacking even the most basic medical equipment.
“The previous government started Agenda 111 but has not been able to finish the hospitals. There are so many of them unfinished. Even the ones they commissioned don’t have a single bed. Now we need $1.7 billion to complete the Agenda 111 projects,” he stated.
President Mahama, as part of his administration’s efforts to ensure the completion of the remaining projects without further delays, has proposed a partnership with religious organisations to support the completion of some of the stalled projects.
He has therefore called on interested religious bodies to take on the uncompleted hospitals, complete them, and manage them to ensure that healthcare services reach more Ghanaians.
According to him, the government will not construct new hospitals in areas that have existing healthcare facilities even if the facility is a mission hospital. Additionally, what his government intends to do is to equip the existing healthcare facilities to meet international standards to serve more citizens within the catchment of the facility.
“If the missions already have a hospital in an area, we are not coming to compete with them by building another one. Instead, we will use resources to improve mission hospitals so they can better serve the community,” he reiterated.
However, President Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that all Agenda 111 hospitals are completed and fully equipped to meet the healthcare needs of the country.
Source: gbcghanaonline.com
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it has successfully conducted constituency executive elections in 245 out of its 276 constituencies across the country.
The party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the exercise recorded an 88.7 per cent success rate and was conducted peacefully in the constituencies where voting took place.
In an update posted on his Facebook page, he said elections in 23 constituencies were put on hold because of various disputes.
He added that four constituencies Ningo Prampram, Atwima Mponua, Obuasi West and Trobu could not hold their elections due to last minute challenges.
According to him, the party’s National Steering Committee will also review election activities in Afigya Sekyere East, Adansi Asokwa, Bantama and Asante Akyem Central.
Mr Frimpong said the National Secretariat is committed to resolving all outstanding issues to ensure the successful completion of the constituency executive elections.
He expressed appreciation to members of the party for their support and discipline throughout the exercise.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to all Patriots for their commitment, discipline, and support, which contributed to the successful conduct of these elections,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Northern Regional Police Command has arrested two Nigerian nationals in connection with the murder of a 36-year-old Nigerian man at Sanzirigu in Tamale.
The suspects, identified as Daniel Victor Eze and David Oko Ewa, were arrested on Saturday, July 11, shortly after the body of Nkemujika Uzorchuku Eze was found in his bedroom.
According to the Police, preliminary investigations showed that the deceased lived in a three-bedroom apartment with his wife, Peace Uzorchuku, the two suspects and another Nigerian national, Godwin Nwafor.
The Police said officers began investigations after receiving a report that the deceased had been found lying in a pool of blood in his room.
A team that visited the scene found that he had suffered a deep cut to the forehead and had a towel stuffed into his mouth. The room had also been ransacked.
The Police said a wooden pestle believed to have been used in the attack, together with other items, was recovered from the scene for forensic examination.
The body was taken to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where a medical officer confirmed him dead before it was deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and an autopsy.
According to the Police, intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of the two suspects at Tatale on the same day while they were allegedly attempting to escape into the Republic of Togo.
They were later handed over to the Tamale District Criminal Investigations Department to assist with investigations.
The Police said the suspects allegedly admitted during interrogation that they had conspired to kill the deceased because he had been withholding money they claimed was obtained through internet fraud.
A search conducted after their arrest led to the recovery of several items suspected to have been stolen from the deceased’s room, including mobile phones, laptop computers, a tablet, jewellery, clothing, wristwatches, personal documents and other valuables. The Police said the items have been kept as exhibits to support the investigations.
The suspects remain in Police custody and are expected to appear before court on Monday, July 13, to facilitate the ongoing investigations.
The Northern Regional Police Command said it remains committed to bringing everyone involved in the crime to justice and urged the public to provide credible information to help fight crime.
By: Jacob Aggrey
