The Executive Director, Doctor Carsten Owusu Poku of the Liberal Institute for Policy Studies made a press statement on health infrastructure development and delivery in the Ashanti region on 23rd April 2024
According to the Executive Director of the Institution, Dr Carsten Owusu Poku , said first statement on health infrastructure of development and delivery In Ashanti region by the Liberal Institute for policy studies (LIPS) , the liberal institute is the central raise think tank while we believe in conservatism property only democracy and the liberty of individual to persuade their God given talent as the way of contributing betterment to the society , we have not lost from the fact that politics of the state and decision making must and should shape the development of our society though government policy are made national level with an established policy logic that policy must have localized relevance, there no relevance lin having an excellent health policy on paper if it can not and that’s not led to the provision of quality health infrastructure and delivery in our communities, hence let take a bottom of approach in not too complicated manner that enzyme the policy and the development outputs across the various regions of Ghana
In addition, as we get closer to the election 2024 many left with a critical question as in what should determine the election 2024 , should it should base on retricks manifesto, name calling or critical examination of the development analysis of the various regions, with the government of promises by the two main parties ahead of the election it is imperative that we have affair on biases appreciation of the fact of their delivery perspective religions as benchmarks for even check on their competence, trust and responsible to the needs of the citizens luck for us the two leaders in the two main parties has served in high offices as vice president or even better , the evidence of their delivery of their respective sectors of the state provides an important shadow of the level of trust we can commit to their promises, liberal institute for policy studies (LIPS) commits factual sector by sector analysis of the performance of these two main parties across the 16 regions of Ghana.Attention will paid to the coming days to help education,roads, trade industry and comers ,energy, governance, and local governance among others specially to the work that we did on health sector in Ashanti region
Furthermore, we use three main indicators, the first variable was how many hospitals were inherited by each regime when talking each regime what we look out is January,7th 2009 and January 7th in 2017 before each government came held how many hospitals project had already completed as they inherited, out of the complete number how many were commissioned to be used and active work today, the second variable looks the number of hospitals that were initiated within 8 years period of each of these regimes , how many hospitals were completed and commissioned for used and for that matter actively in use as we speak , the last variable looks at specialized hospitals project which may have been initiated by a government agency , out of these project how many were completed and commissioned for used .
There is a case that about the maternity block by the First Lady that is not a government project we mark it as a fact however the relationship between the First Lady and foundation and the regime can not be under extemate so we need to put that across in clear things.
Moreover, going through the summary
NDC did not complete any hospital project inherited from previous governments in
the Ashanti Region in their 8 years (January 07, 2009 to January 06, 2017). These
hospitals include the Bekwai hospital from the Acheampong regime, the 4 Euroget
projects from the Kufour regime (Konongo, Tepa, Sewua and Afari) and the 800 bed
KNUST Teaching Hospital. None of these hospital projects were completed from
January 07, 2009 to January 06, 2017. Hence, none was commissioned. The NDC
sought for funding for Bekwai hospital in 2010 and secured same in 2012. However,
the NDC could not finish the hospital project. On Euroget projects that started in 2008,
the NDC revisited the project in 2014. As at the time of leaving office, none was
completed. The 800 bed KNUST Teaching Hospital was entirely abandoned in the 8
years of the NDC. Though the project started with Internally Generated Funds (IGF)
from the University, it got no support from the central government despite calls for
support from the Chancellor of KNUST, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in 2012.
In a sharp contrast, the NPP sought additional funding in 2019 to complete the age-
long Bekwai district hospital and commissioned same for use in 2021. Out of the 4
Euroget projects, 3 have been completed with 2, Konongo and Tepa district hospitals,
in use. A power transmission sub-station for the Sewua Regional Hospital is almost
complete. For the hospital structure and installations, all are completed. The 500 bed
Afari Military Hospital is about 95% and work is ongoing in earnest to complete and
commission same for use. Regarding the 800 bed KNUST Teaching Hospital which
was abandoned for 8 years under the NDC, the NPP government has secured a loan of
€80 million for the continuation and completion of the project. In addition to these,
the Fomena and Kumawu District Hospitals which were inherited from the NDC have
also been completed. Fomena Hopsital is currently in use and Kumawu District
He continues, HOSPITALS INITIATED BY RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS,
NDC did not complete and commission any of the hospital the NDC government
initiated in the Ashanti Region from 2009 to 2016. The NDC, initiated 2 hospitals, the
Fomena and Kumawu District Hospitals, under the NMS projects in 2014. None of
these got completed. On the other hand, in the last 8 years, the NPP has initiated 24
new hospital, with 19 under the Agenda 111 and 5 under VAMED. While all 5 project
under VAMED (Sabronum, Manso Nkwanta, Suame – Anomange, Drobonso and
Twedie) are completed and handed over to government, the 19 Agenda 111 projects
are at various stages of completion
SPECIALISED PROJECTS INITIATED
In a search for other monumental projects “within” hospitals or that supports critical
health care delivery, the Eye Centre was counted for the NDC from January 07, 2009
to January 06, 2017 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Luckily, they managed
to complete and commission it for use. On the other hand, the NPP counts 10 major
health infrastructure initiatives that support and assist in the delivery of health in the
Ashanti Region.
Specifically, the Mother and Baby Unit is the legacy of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca
Akufo-Addo, who through her ingenuity and leadership raised funds from corporate
Ghana to build. Additionally, five of these specialised projects are also completed and four are in use. The completed ones are the Patase Police Hospital (by the Police Service),
Treatment and Quarantine Facility (Chirapatre), Comprehensive Treatment and Quarantine Facility (Sewua), Zipline Medical Drone Delivery, one Constituency one
Ambulance. It is interesting to note that before the one constituency one ambulance project
in Ashanti Region, the Region could boost of only two working ambulances out of five
Today, Ashanti Region has 48 Ambulances, out of which one is dedicated to each of
the 47 constituencies and one dedicated to the Kumasi Sport Stadium.The Medical
Drone Delivery Service is also helping to deliver needed medical supplies to hinterland in the Ashanti Region.
Final the Executive Director of the institute, Doctor Carsten Owusu Poku, said the record of the NPP in the Ashanti Region on health infrastructure
development and delivery is stronger than that of the NDC. The NDC did not
complete and commission a single hospital in the Ashanti Region in their 8 years
where John Mahama served as a Vice President and subsequently, a President.
Secondly, the NDC did not complete a single hospital it inherited from any of the
previous governments in its 8 years where John Mahama served as Vice President and
subsequently, a President. In contrast, the NPP has completed 6 out of the 8 hospitals
the government inherited. The NPP has completed 5 out of the 24 hospitals the
government has initiated. The government has also completed 5 specialised projects.
this story was filed by kesse Solomon from Gye nyame media network
