The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Dickson Adomako Kissi, has assured former La General staff members and the public of government's commitment to having the demolished hospital rebuilt “within a space of about a year and a half.”

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During parliamentary deliberations on the stalled project, Mr. Kissi expressed optimism that with the revisit of the loan agreement, construction would soon commence.

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"One key thing is that, no matter what the issues were. It has come back to bare that one, the loan agreement is being revisited, and two, construction will take off. And I think that this is the best Christmas gift to La. This will be our Christmas gift to La," Mr. Kissi stated."Now one key thing, without a doubt. I am even more happy about the fact that this will be done within the space of about a year and a half. Yes. That was the initial contract arrangement. For twelve months and if we are re-visiting, I can assure the La General staff members who were working there and then the citizenry that 3nky3 biaa, in the shortest time we will have La General Hospital back,” he said.

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The La General Hospital was a public hospital in the La Dadekotopon Municipal District of Accra, Ghana. It was built in 1928 and served as a referral centre for the Greater Accra Region. It offered medical, surgical, emergency, obstetrical, gynecological, pediatric, and psychiatric services to the community.

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In July 2020, the hospital was demolished after the hospital's administration reported severe structural problems. The demolition was part of a plan to redevelop the hospital into a new and modern facility with 160 beds and state-of-the-art equipment.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project on August 10, 2020. The project was expected to be completed within 18 months and cost $68 million. The project was funded by a loan from Standard Chartered Bank and the UK Export Finance.

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However, the project has been stalled due to challenges with the loan agreement and the transfer of the project to the Agenda 111, which is the government's flagship initiative to build 111 district hospitals across the country. The project has faced opposition and criticism from some stakeholders, including the people of La, who have accused the government of neglecting their health needs and delaying the provision of a critical infrastructure.

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In the 2024 budget, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced that an allocation had been made for the project and that work was due to start soon.

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The minister appealed to the Speaker of Parliament and the Minority to approve the budget and the revenue bills without delay, saying that the project was a Christmas gift to the people of La.

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Source: The Independent Ghana

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