The Minority in Parliament is demanding immediate review of the contract on Ridge Hospital refurbishment, suspecting that the nation has been short-changed.

It has vowed that it will not relent on its efforts to ensure greater transparency in the award of government contracts in spite of impediments put in its way.

Addressing a news conference in Accra today on what it considers to be the true state of the nation, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu cited the refurbishment of the Ridge Hospital as one clear example of a case, which requires thorough investigation.

Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent, Elton John Brobbey reported the Minority Leader as saying they would demand greater transparency and ensure that ministers of state appear before Parliament to respond to urgent questions.

According to him, the Ridge Hospital, for instance, when completed, will cost the nation 675 dollars per square meter.

In his estimation, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu believes the hospital would probably be the most expensive hospital in the world.

Parliament in February approved a commercial agreement between the government and Messrs Bouygues Bartiment International, for the design, construction, procurement and installation of equipment for the rehabilitation of the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

But the Minority is relying on a report by a UK international company, Crown Agents, which states that the $305 million contract price was overpriced.

The company has estimated the project to cost 162 million dollars, which the Minority Leader said if government had listened to the advice of Crown Agents, employed by the state to conduct due diligence on the refurbishment project, the nation would have made a “minimum saving of 142 million dollars”.

 He is certain the Ministry of Health would be exposed “to an unacceptable level of risk” for engaging in such a contract.

Insisting that the agreement “does not offer value for money”, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu wants the agreement brought back to parliament for further scrutiny, a step, the minority has already initiated.