In a story published on citinewsroom.com, the Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has stated that Cabinet has approved government investment in 35 hospitals under the Agenda 111 programme, with construction to be completed in phases. He said the decision was intended to concentrate resources on selected facilities rather than spread funding across all the projects simultaneously.
Mr Akandoh disclosed that approximately GH¢4.5 billion had already been spent on Agenda 111, arguing that the amount could have completed about 20 hospitals if funding had been concentrated on fewer projects. He said the selection of the 35 facilities was based on their levels of completion and equitable distribution across Ghana’s 16 regions.
First of all, government’s decision to prioritise 35 hospitals under the Agenda 111 programme is a welcome move towards addressing the persistent delays that have characterised one of the country’s most ambitious healthcare infrastructure initiatives. However, the success of this decision will depend on whether the government can translate its commitment into fully equipped, functional hospitals.
The Health Minister said construction is to be completed in phases and the approach is intended to concentrate resources on selected projects rather than distribute limited funding across the entire programme.
To The Chronicle, this is a sensible strategy. Agenda 111 was introduced in 2021 to expand healthcare infrastructure, particularly in districts without hospitals. Yet years after its launch, many facilities remain incomplete, raising concerns about project implementation, financing and the efficient use of public resources.
Mr Akandoh’s disclosure that approximately GH¢4.5 billion has already been spent on the programme underscores the need for a more focused approach. If concentrating resources can bring more hospitals into operation sooner, the government should pursue that objective with urgency and discipline.
Nevertheless, prioritisation must not become an excuse to neglect facilities excluded from the first phase. Communities awaiting these hospitals have legitimate healthcare needs and their expectations must not be indefinitely deferred. The government should publish clear timelines for the 35 selected facilities while outlining how the remaining projects will be completed.
The proposed partnerships with the Christian Health Association of Ghana and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission also deserve consideration. Their involvement could provide additional capacity to complete, equip and manage selected facilities. However, such arrangements must be transparent, with clearly defined responsibilities for financing, staffing, maintenance and service delivery.
More importantly, the government must recognise that completing hospital buildings is only part of the task. Facilities require medical equipment, qualified personnel, medicines, reliable utilities and adequate operational funding before they can provide meaningful healthcare services. Without these essentials, even a completed hospital risks becoming another expensive but underutilised public asset.
The selection criteria, including construction progress and equitable regional distribution, should also be applied transparently. Regional representation must be balanced with the actual healthcare needs of underserved communities.
Ultimately, the government must be judged by results, not announcements. Regular progress reports detailing expenditure, construction milestones and operational readiness would strengthen public confidence and improve accountability.
Agenda 111 represents a substantial public investment and an important commitment to improving healthcare access. Prioritising 35 hospitals offers an opportunity to recover lost ground and government must seize it by ensuring that these facilities are completed, adequately equipped and opened within clearly defined timelines.
