As part of part of measures to tackle the ravaging health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will tomorrow observe the commencement of the construction of the 111 standard hospitals across the country.
The project known as ‘Agenda 111’, is part of a grand vision for Ghana’s healthcare sector by the Akufo-Addo administration.
It will ensure that 101 outstanding districts will be provided with hospitals in addition to 10 selected regional and specialized hospitals.
Minister for Information Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who announced this at a media briefing in Accra yesterday, said the President will personally observe the commencement of works at Trede in the Ashanti Region with other contractors in other districts expected to commence works afterwards.
He said the agenda 111 is programmed to take 12 months to complete from commencement of each unit with a funding of $100 million from government through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The project is budgeted at nearly $17 million each of the district and specialized hospitals with funding from the Government of Ghana (GoG) as the construction of the six new regional hospitals will be executed under an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) arrangement.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah noted that the construction of the 111 hospitals will lead to Ghana becoming a Centre of Medical Excellence and a destination for medical tourism in the West African sub-region.
“The project is expected to deepen healthcare delivery at all district levels and ensure that the Ghanaian can access high quality healthcare at all district levels.
“It will also provide thousands of jobs for the healthcare staff to be recruited and posted to all these 111 facilities as well as their ancillary workers in these communities.
“he housing and local services associated with these projects are also expected to add a new layer to local economic activities in service of the local communities”, he added.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah called on all Ghanaians, especially the local beneficiary communities, traditional leaders, youth and all actors in the local health sector to rally behind the agenda and give their full support as government rolls out the project in full.