Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has urged contractors working on the La General Hospital project to accelerate construction works to ensure the facility is completed ahead of its scheduled commissioning in January 2028.
Speaking during an inspection of the project site, the Minister acknowledged the progress made so far but stressed the need for increased pace, given the critical role the hospital is expected to play in serving a large population within the Greater Accra Region and beyond.
“We can speed up so that we can beat the deadline,” Hon. Akandoh stated, encouraging contractors to intensify efforts to deliver the project earlier than planned.
The Minister dismissed concerns that delays in payments were responsible for the pace of work, emphasizing that the government had consistently met its financial obligations to contractors. He disclosed that the latest Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) had already been submitted and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for the necessary processing.
Hon. Akandoh also called for a reassessment of the proposed capacity of the hospital’s emergency department to ensure it adequately meets current and future healthcare demands.
According to him, expanding capacity where necessary would help address challenges related to emergency bed availability and improve the delivery of urgent medical care.
The La General Hospital project, valued at €50 million, includes the provision and installation of modern medical equipment aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and improving access to quality medical services.
The Health Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to the project and pledged continuous monitoring to ensure construction proceeds according to schedule until the facility is completed and becomes fully operational.
When completed, the hospital is expected to significantly strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the capital and improve access to specialized and emergency medical services for residents.