Kwabena Mintah Akandoh urges speed on €50m La General Hospital project

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed contractors to fast-track the construction of the La General Hospital to ensure the facility is completed by the end of 2027. During a site inspection on October 29, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far but emphasized that the pace of work must increase to meet the scheduled commissioning. The €50 million project, which includes both physical construction and the installation of modern medical equipment, is intended to restore critical healthcare services to the La community and surrounding areas.

Addressing concerns regarding the project's timeline, Mr. Akandoh dismissed claims that government payment delays were hindering construction. He confirmed that approximately €15 million has already been disbursed for the works and noted that the latest interim payment certificate has been forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for processing. The Minister stated that with financial obligations being met by the government, the contractor has no excuse for slow progress and must adhere strictly to the revised delivery schedule.

Beyond the construction timeline, the Minister called for a comprehensive review of the hospital's emergency department capacity. He observed that the current design's allocation of emergency beds is insufficient relative to the total bed capacity and the large population the facility is expected to serve. Mr. Akandoh proposed that emergency beds should constitute at least 10% of the hospital's total bed count to prevent the "no-bed syndrome" and ensure that patients in critical condition are not turned away due to lack of space.

The La General Hospital project remains a priority for the government as it seeks to address the infrastructure deficit in the health sector. Once completed, the facility will feature an expanded emergency unit, specialized wards, and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. The Ministry of Health has pledged to continue its close monitoring of the site to ensure that the 2027 target is met and that the final infrastructure meets the required standards for modern emergency and specialized care.