Ranking Member on the Health Select Committee of Parliament, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has voiced concerns regarding the delayed expansion of the Shama District Hospital.
He reminded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that despite breaking ground on the project four years ago, it remains stagnant.
Mr. Akandoh, a Member of Parliament representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Juaboso Constituency in the Western North Region, expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in establishing the intended health facility for the people of Shama in the Western Region.
He observed that instead of construction progressing, the site has become overrun with rodents and weeds.
“In March 2020, Parliament approved a loan of approximately 32 million euros for the expansion of the hospital to enhance healthcare services for the people,” he noted.
“President Akufo-Addo, in August 2020, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction, assuring the people that there was a dedicated fund for the completion of the project.”
During an appearance on The Citizen Show hosted by Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Accra 100.5 FM, Mr. Akandoh expressed his frustration with the slow progress of the project, noting that it remains in its initial stages.
He commended the chiefs and residents for their resistance to the initial plan of demolishing the entire hospital, drawing parallels to a similar situation at La General Hospital in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr. Akandoh praised the Shama community for their steadfastness in opposing the demolition of the hospital structure.
As the delay persists, he urged the government to accelerate the expansion project to meet the healthcare needs of the Shama District and its surrounding areas.