Chairman of the Greater Accra Minority Caucus, Ní Rante Vanderpuy, has issued a stern warning to the government to ensure that the construction of La General Hospital is included in the 2024 budget.
He said if the government did not heed the warning, NDC MPs would organize residents of La and Ga-Mashie to picket the offices of state agencies.
The former local government minister also threatened that the minority would disrupt parliament until concerns on the issue were resolved.
Demolition of LA General Hospital: Without a commitment on the hospital, the 2024 budget cannot be passed. – Odododiodio MP#joynews pic.twitter.com/xE9R3lEysv
— Joy News (@JoyNewsOnTV) November 7, 2023
Speaking in Parliament in Accra on Tuesday, November 7, Mr Vanderpuy said: I guarantee that the sitting will be suspended until the La General Hospital is included in the budget. Show you are on our land. This will be another showdown. ”
“We will ensure that the Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance do not enjoy comfort in their ministries. If you do not work at the La General Hospital, we will gather the people of La and Ga Masie and occupy your offices. I will.”
Meanwhile, Majority Leader of Parliament Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu blamed the delay in rebuilding Accra’s La General Hospital on the withholding of funds by the hospital’s sponsors.
In a statement to Parliament, Kyei Mensah-Bonsu explained that the sponsors withheld the funds following Ghana’s involvement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Mr. Chairman, what has happened is that after engagement with the IMF and funding from sources approved by Congress, that money is being withheld by the sponsor.”
“Mr. Chairman, it will be difficult to release funds until the people are given full health insurance from the IMF. This is why the government now wants to place it within the context of Agenda 111. That’s why, and it will mean that we will have to downsize the facility a little bit,” Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said.
La General Hospital was demolished in July 2020 due to serious structural problems reported by the hospital administration.
President Akufo-Addo mowed the lawn for the commencement of construction of the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project on August 10, 2020, but construction has not yet begun.
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