The Health Ministry says it has no information on government’s Agenda 111 project.

The comment was contained in its response to a JoyNews request for information on the projected government projects to be “the largest investment in healthcare infrastructure in the country since independence.”

Pursuant to the RTI Act (2019), ACT 989, the JoyNews Research Desk on February 11 wrote to the ministry seeking:

1. Copies of the policy or policies underpinning the project.

2. Detailed project proposal including feasibility studies and funding sources secured.

3. List of all districts where projects will be sited.

4. Detailed plan for commencement and completion of each of the projects.

5. Detailed plan for staffing and operation of each of the hospitals.

But the Ministry in a reply on Monday, March 21, said “Per our records, we do not have the information in our custody.”

In January this year, the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, told Ghana Television that the government’s ambitious Agenda 111 project had made progress of 35 per cent.

“On average, we have done close to about 35 per cent works on all the 101 facilities… There were a lot of pre-contract arrangements, things that we needed to do; siting, topography surveys to ensure that there are places where contractors can move into.”

Last week, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, charged the media to make use of the RTI Law to curb speculation and hearsay.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Ofoase Ayeribi MP said, “to our colleagues in the media, we want to encourage a lot more use of the RTI Act and a lot less resort to speculation and hearsay. The RTI Act grants you, by law, access to information for purposes of media work as well.”

Agenda 111

President Akufo-Addo on August 17, 2021, launched the Agenda 111 project.

The project will cover the design, procurement, construction, equipping and commissioning of 101 District Hospitals, 6 Regional Hospitals in newly created regions, and 1 Regional Hospital in the Western Region, 2 Psychiatric Hospitals in Kumasi and Tamale a redeveloped Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

The project is to ensure that Ghanaians nationwide have access to quality healthcare services and with the National Health Insurance Scheme, boost the provision of healthcare infrastructure and financial accessibility to healthcare.

Doctors, nurses and other health personnel will have accommodation in the hospitals to be constructed.

According to the Agenda 111 detailed document, the facilities that will be enjoyed by Ghanaians include four state-of-the-art surgical theatres for maternity, obstetrics and gynaecology, a full complement of male, female, pediatric and isolation wards, among others.

According to government, on completion, the venture will be “the largest investment in healthcare infrastructure in the country since independence.”

Below is the detailed document on the Agenda 111 project: