Health Minister Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has charged contractors handling the La General Hospital redevelopment to step up their pace to ensure the facility is handed over ahead of the official January 2028 commissioning deadline.
The Minister made the call during an unannounced inspection visit to the project site, where he evaluated the progress of ongoing civil works. Addressing journalists after the tour, he expressed satisfaction with the work done so far but insisted that the timeline could be shortened if the project team committed to a faster schedule.
He emphasised that the government views the hospital as a vital healthcare lifeline for the densely populated La community and surrounding enclaves, making any potential delays unacceptable. According to him, speeding up construction would bring much-needed relief to local residents who have had to seek medical care elsewhere for years.
Hon. Akandoh rejected claims that financial bottlenecks were slowing down work on site, reassuring the public that the government remains fully up to date with its payment obligations to the contractors. He revealed that the latest interim payment certificate submitted by the construction firm had already been processed and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for prompt settlement.
Touching on the technical specifications of the development, the Minister highlighted the need to re-evaluate the proposed capacity of the emergency department. He tasked project engineers to review the current designs to guarantee the unit can accommodate the high volume of critical cases expected, directly tackling the broader issue of emergency bed shortages in the capital.
The €50 million redevelopment project encompasses the construction of modern clinical blocks alongside the supply and installation of state-of-the-art medical equipment. Hon. Akandoh pledged that the Ministry of Health will maintain rigorous supervisory oversight through regular site visits until the hospital is fully completed, commissioned, and opened to the public.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana