Abandoned Health Facilities: Blame gov’t for unnecessary audits, prolonged due diligence- Mahama

Ghana’s Ex- President, John Dramani Mahama says government is to blame for the non-completion of health infrastructure projects that were initiated during his tenure.

He has chastised government for causing unnecessary audits and investigations into these projects, which he assessed could have been completed months after his exit in 2017.

Mr. Mahama noted in his digital conversation on health care and infrastructure yesterday, stressed that the required funding arrangements were secured to ensure the completion of these projects within schedule, and so government has no excuse for failing to complete them.

“These were facilities that were designed based on funding agreements. And so they were costed and based on the costing, the funds were reached. Most of these were based on external loans that we contracted and they had been approved by parliament and actually work had begun. So there must be no reason why the funds were not available for completion of these projects. I believe the funds were available. I think that in most cases it was unnecessary. Investigation of the projects are unnecessary and prolonged due diligence, you know, and value for money audits on the projects that delayed these projects” he explained.

He added that arguments made by government that funds for these projects have been exhausted and couldn’t have completed them, are not tenable.

“And if funds became shocks, then it would mean that because of the delay in executing the projects, inflation would have affected the original cost that we had anticipated to complete these projects” Mr. Mahama noted.

NDC MPs in 2019, went on a tour of hospital and other health projects across the country which have been “abandoned.”

Tepa District Hospital, Twifo Praso District Hospital, Konongo District Hospital, Nsawkaw District Hospital, Kumawu District Hospital among others, were among several hospitals the team toured. Most of these projects which were due for completion in 2018 and 2019, have actually been consumed by weeds.

But Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu is a recent press briefing refuted these claims by political opponents [Minority in Parliament] that government had abandoned these projects. In his remarks, these projects haved received the necessary attention and would be completed soon.