District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the Upper East Region have appealed to the government to fast-track the completion of Agenda 111 hospital projects in their districts. The government under former president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the year 2021 broke ground to construct 111 district, regional and specialized hospitals across the country.
In the Upper East Region, 8 districts. Garu, Tempane, Pusiga, Binduri, Kassena-Nankana West, Nabdam, Bolgatanga East and Builsa South districts are benefiting from the project. Even though some of the hospitals in the region are roofed, none are completed and functioning.
It is for this reason that some DCEs in the beneficiary districts are appealing to the government to fast-track the completion of the Agenda 111 hospitals in their areas.
The District Chief Executive for Tempane, Mbilla Joseph Ayaaba, said the district currently has no hospital, leaving residents dependent on incomplete facilities and distant health centres.
“We don’t have a hospital — the whole district without a hospital,” he said. “What is termed hospital there is probably the Agenda 111 project, which is not even at the roofing stage. It is about 49 to 50 percent complete, but it has not been roofed. I want to appeal to you to consider fast-tracking the Agenda 111 project to serve the good people of Tempane.”
The appeal was made during a visit by the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to the Upper East region. Similarly, the DCE for Pusiga, Abdul Rahim Aguri Haruna, stressed the strategic importance of the district, which shares borders with Burkina Faso and Togo, yet lacks a district hospital.
“Pusiga is strategically located, sharing boundaries with Burkina Faso and Togo, but we don’t have a hospital,” he said. “The Agenda 111 project has progressed with roofing works, but it is still incomplete. We are appealing for support to complete it so our people can access quality healthcare.”
Mr. Haruna also noted that the absence of a public hospital has allowed private facilities to dominate healthcare delivery in the area, sometimes making services expensive for residents, especially when foreign nationals cross the border to seek medical care.
The DCE for Binduri, Martin Ariku Akudugu, also joined the call, indicating that the Agenda 111 hospital project in his district is nearing completion but still requires government support.
“Binduri’s Agenda 111 project has been roofed and plastered. It is about 80 to 90 percent complete,” he said. “If you could kindly consider helping us complete it, it will go a long way to improve healthcare delivery in the district.”
For his part, the DCE for Nabdam, Francis Tobig, urged the government to prioritize districts where the projects are far advanced.
“I want to appeal to you concerning Agenda 111. You may be looking at the percentage of completion, but some areas must be prioritized. In our district, it has become a major concern for residents who are constantly asking that the project be completed,” he said.
A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Joshua Asaah | Bolgatanga
