In a move that has raised eyebrows, outgoing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been accused of rushing to commission a 250-bed hospital in Sewua, near Kumasi, despite the project being incomplete.
Private legal practitioner Nana Yaw Osei has questioned the president’s motives, pointing out that the government had eight years to complete the project but failed to do so. Instead, the president is now rushing to commission the hospital, sparking accusations of political grandstanding.
“What’s the hurry to commission uncompleted hospital projects, and the contractors are exposing you, Mr. President?” Nana Yaw asked.
He emphasized “You had eight years to ensure this project your govt came to meet was done and dusted for you to Commission. completed, but you ignored it. You ignored it”
According to Nana Yaw Osei, the president’s inaction on the project deprived the people of the Ashanti Region and beyond access to quality healthcare.
“Your inaction on this project denied the people of the Ashanti Region and beyond qualify healthcare”, he stated.
Nana Yaw Osei strongly criticized the Akufo-Addo-led government for prioritizing numerous uncompleted Agenda 111 projects nationwide, while neglecting existing projects.
He accused the government of disregarding the needs of the existing projects, instead focusing on initiating new ones.
“You didn’t care; rather you ‘sprayed’ uncompleted Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country”,Nana Yaw Osei stressed, highlighting the government’s alleged lack of concern for the existing projects.
In a surprising turn of events, President Akufo-Addo commissioned the hospital on January 4, 2025, accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, the Presidential Advisor on Health, and other government officials. However, the media, the contractor for the project, and the Chief of Sewua were all absent from the commissioning.
The controversy has been fueled by the contractor, Euroget De-Invest, who has stated that the project is incomplete and that they have not received full payment. The company has described the commissioning as “illegal” and a breach of contract.
“We retain possession of the site until the project is handed over correctly and legally,” the contractor said. “We’re concerned about the government’s disregard for contractual agreements and the law.”
The incident has raised questions about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability. As the outgoing president prepares to leave office, the timing of the commissioning has sparked accusations of a desperate attempt to score political points.
www.kumasimail.com:/kwadwo owusu