The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has launched a scathing assessment of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s flagship Agenda 111 hospital programme, declaring that despite an estimated GH¢4.8 billion spent on the initiative, not a single facility inherited by the current government is operational.
Appearing before Parliament’s Assurance Committee on Thursday, July 9, Mr. Akandoh said the Mahama administration inherited incomplete hospital projects, over GH¢1 billion in unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), and facilities that were commissioned for public display but were not equipped to provide healthcare services.
According to the Minister, the government has prioritised 35 Agenda 111 hospital projects for completion and has directed contractors to return to their respective sites. However, he declined to commit to completion timelines, explaining that some contracts may need to be terminated and restructured before work can proceed.
“I do not want to give specific dates because some contracts may have to be terminated and repackaged. If I give a date now, I may be called back before this committee to explain why it was not met,” he told lawmakers.
Mr. Akandoh disclosed that the 2026 Budget has made financial provision for work to begin on 10 of the 35 selected projects, adding that while some contractors have already resumed work, others are expected to return once outstanding payments are processed.
The Health Minister said settling the inherited debt owed to contractors remains critical to restarting construction.
“About GH¢4.8 billion was spent on Agenda 111, but unfortunately, we don’t have a single one of them that could save a life today. We inherited over GH¢1 billion in unpaid IPCs, and we are processing those payments so contractors can return to site and continue the projects,” he stated.
His remarks came after members of the Assurance Committee questioned the operational status of hospitals that had previously been commissioned under the Akufo-Addo administration.
Asked directly how many Agenda 111 hospitals are currently functional, Mr. Akandoh responded without hesitation: “Zero.”
Although acknowledging that three facilities were commissioned by the previous government, the Minister argued that the ceremonies took place before the hospitals were fully completed, equipped, or ready to receive patients.
“I have personally visited these sites. They did not have the full complement of medical equipment required to operate. In some instances, generators were brought in solely for the commissioning ceremony, only to be removed afterwards before the facilities were locked up,” he alleged.
Mr. Akandoh insisted that commissioning a public health facility should only happen after construction is complete, all necessary equipment has been installed, the contractor has formally handed over the project, and the hospital is fully prepared to provide medical services.
He maintained that the current administration did not inherit a single commissioned Agenda 111 hospital that was fully functional, adequately equipped, or staffed, describing the situation as evidence that the programme had been driven more by political optics than healthcare delivery.
