The former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has described as ‘lame’ assurances of the Health Minister on the commencement of the La General Hospital.

This, he says is because the Minister failed to provide a specific date work is expected to commence on the demolished project.

“Mr Speaker, I stand on behalf of the people of La and the Member of Parliament, Rita Odoley to dismiss the lame assurances from the Minister for Health that his statement fails to inspire hope. It fails to inspire confidence in the people of La and the people of Ghana that government means well when it pledged and promised them a hospital," he said.

The Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu while briefing the House on the progress of work on the demolished hospital, said work will commence soon.

According to Mr Agyeman-Manu, the project cost has been revised from 68 million euros to 50 million euros and the Finance Minister has identified a financing source for the project.

But responding to the ‘soon’ assurance from the Minister, the Tamale South MP said it means nothing to Ghanaians, adding that a specific timeline for the commencement of the project is needed.

He said that the Minister is also expected to bear responsibility for any lives lost as a result of the demolition, which he attributes to "irresponsibility on the part of people to whom we have entrusted the governance of the country."

According to him, it is only in Ghana that we don’t quantify the harm and the hurt that the demolishing of the hospital has caused the immediate environs of La – infant mortality, and aged deaths over inability to access quality health care.

The La General Hospital was demolished in July 2020 due to what authorities says were severe structural problems reported by the hospital’s administration.

President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the reconstruction of the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project on August 10, 2020, but work has yet to begin.