An amount of GH¢130 million has been allocated by the government towards the completion of the La General Hospital project, according to the Minister of Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

Addressing the media, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh noted that the Minister of Finance, Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has assured the swift release of the funds for the project.

“As Minister of Health, I have a personal interest in this project because its completion will relieve the Ridge and LEKMA hospitals from pressure. I will monitor it closely to ensure it progresses steadily until completion,” he said.

The La General Hospital faced intermittent stalls during the Akufo-Addo-led administration. However, the government has assured that it will be completed within two years.

During a media interaction, Member of Parliament for the La Dadekotopon constituency, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah revealed ““…And so, erm, I believe in 2 years, we are about 30% work done so far—I believe in 2 years it should be completed so that we will be able to use the health facility so that it will not go to 2028”.

However, she explained that the government is committed to following due process, including auditing and reviewing existing documents, to assess the project's current state before officially resuming work.

“When there's a new government, we have to look into the documents of the old. Been in touch with the former Health Minister. We came into office January 7th... His Excellency appointed ministers, and so the ministers have to look through their documents,” adding that as the Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, she has been in constant communication with Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to ensure the project is captured in the Ministry’s plans.

“Despite that, I have been in touch with them to ensure that I went to him to ensure that he will not forget us, and he has assured us that he has not forgotten us because we were in this thing together, coming into the hospital premises to ensure that even work commenced here at the La General Hospital,” she continued.

The La General Hospital was originally established as a Polyclinic in the 1960s. During the first term of President John Dramani Mahama, he upgraded the hospital to a General Hospital in 2015, expanding access to quality healthcare for residents of La and surrounding communities.

The hospital operated for approximately 55 years before its transformation into a general hospital. It became a vital health facility in the Greater Accra Region, offering outpatient services, maternity care, and emergency treatment.

Five years after the upgrade, the hospital was demolished by the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following concerns of safety and durability. There were structural assessments that deemed the building unsafe for continued use.

The government promised to replace it with a more modern, ultra-standard hospital that would better serve the growing population and meet international healthcare standards.

However, the reconstruction faced significant delays. Although the sod-cutting ceremony was held in 2020, actual construction did not begin until January 2024. The delay was attributed to funding challenges, particularly with securing insurance for the loan from the Chinese company Sinosure.

These issues stalled progress for nearly two years, causing frustration among residents and stakeholders. The Majority Leader in Parliament explained that funding was withheld by sponsors after Ghana entered into an engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This made it difficult for the government to access approved funds.

In February 2024, during his State of the Nation Address, President Akufo-Addo announced that construction had officially commenced and that a 15% advance mobilisation fee had been paid to the contractor.

Following this announcement by the president, many labelled the move as a political gimmick focused on getting votes instead of genuinely showing a commitment to fulfilling long-standing healthcare promises.

The new hospital is designed to be a 160-bed facility with advanced medical departments including surgical units, maternity and neonatal services, imaging centres, and a mortuary.

Meanwhile, access to medical-grade oxygen for critical and emergency care at the LEKMA Hospital in the Greater Accra Region will now see a massive improvement following the commissioning of a 10,000-litre capacity oxygen plant.

The plant was commissioned on Wednesday, June 18, by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) following a collaboration with the Ghanaian U.S. Embassy and technical support from a nonprofit organization for international health, Jhpiego.

The newly launched plant adds to the ten oxygen plants to be installed in strategic health facilities across the country.

Director of the Health Administration and Support Services Division, Dr. Ebo Hammond, at GHS, who was speaking at the commissioning event, lauded the government for its timely and impactful intervention.

The US Embassy’s Chargé d'affaires, Rolf Olson, also commended the United States Government’s long-standing commitment to enhancing health systems in Ghana, particularly in maternal and neonatal care.

He also revealed the US government's plans to supply the plant with liquid oxygen for a year to ensure its continued operation.

Also, the Country Director at Jhpiego, Dr. Pearl Nanka Bruce, noted that biomedical engineers and fire service personnel have undergone specialized training to ensure the plant's proper maintenance.

Recently, The LEKMA Hospital received medical equipment, consumables and pharmaceuticals from the 14th Chinese Medical Team to Ghana.

The items were donated to support two critical initiatives: the minimally invasive surgery project (laparoscopic surgeries) and the Beautiful World Charity project.

Health Minister Mintah Akandoh urged the leadership of LEKMA Hospital, under the capable direction of Dr. Akua Gyimah Asante, to ensure that this equipment is used effectively, maintained diligently, and serves its intended purpose, providing better health outcomes for the people of Ghana.

This donation represents another tangible demonstration of support from the Chinese government to both the government of Ghana and the Ghanaian people.

The U.S. Embassy has expressed commitment to strengthening health services through collaboration, innovation, and sustained investment in primary healthcare.

As such, the Embassy under its Ghana Integrated Health Program (IHP) donated some 104 motorbikes to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG).

The donation is meant to strengthen primary healthcare, improve disease surveillance, and enhance maternal and child health outreach by equipping frontline workers with reliable means of transport.

Of the total, 90 bikes were allocated to GHS and 14 to CHAG. Receiving the motorbikes on behalf of the Director-General of the Service, Director for Health Administration and Support Services at GHS, Dr. Ebo Hammond, expressed profound appreciation for the support and described the motorbikes as vital mobility tools that will boost frontline health workers’ ability to reach hard-to-access areas.

Dr. Hammond highlighted that motorbikes form 90% of GHS’s transport fleet, making them especially effective when visiting hard-to-reach areas, and assured the U.S. Embassy of the effective use and maintenance of the donated items.

He commended the US embassy for past interventions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Delivering remarks on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Kimberley Rosen emphasized the strong partnership between Ghana and the U.S. in healthcare delivery.

She noted that the handover reflects America’s continued investment in Ghana’s health system, praising healthcare workers for their dedication.