Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, former Minister of Health and representative of GAD
A youth-led civic and professional coalition representing all sixteen regions of Ghana, the Ghana Amalgam for Development (GAD), has expressed deep concern about the worsening state of the nation’s health infrastructure under the NDC administration led by President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, former Minister of Health and representative of GAD, cited stalled projects and unpaid contractors as evidence of government neglect. He highlighted the La General Hospital Redevelopment Project as a major example, noting that construction has remained at a standstill for nearly twelve months.
Funding Challenges
Dr Okoe Boye explained that the redevelopment of the La General Hospital was launched on 10 August 2020 at an estimated cost of €68 million, financed through a bilateral agreement between the governments of Ghana and China. Standard Chartered Bank (UK) served as the financier, while Sinosure acted as the export credit guarantor.
He disclosed that the project suffered setbacks due to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which disrupted funding from the Chinese facility. To avoid total abandonment, the previous NPP administration financed the project from government resources and honoured all Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) issued by the contractor.
“The last IPC under the NPP administration was processed in October 2024, after which two additional IPCs were submitted to the Ministry of Health,” he said.
However, Dr Okoe Boye lamented that the current NDC government had failed to release any payment to the contractor since assuming office.
“For nearly twelve months, not even ten Ghana cedis has been paid since the last IPCs were received and processed,” he revealed, describing the situation as “a betrayal of public trust.”
Government Inaction
Dr Okoe Boye criticised the administration for its inaction, especially after campaigning on the promise to complete the project. He said the non-release of funds had severe social consequences, leading to the dismissal of nearly 90 percent of the workforce—over 200 young men and women from La, Teshie, Osu, and Ododiodioo.
He further described the La General Hospital as a crucial referral point, serving as a “wetland” for emergency transfers from 37 Military Hospital, LEKMA Hospital, Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. According to him, the prolonged delay in its reconstruction poses a grave public health risk.
Urgent Action
While acknowledging the Minister of Health’s visit to the site on 10 October 2025 and the government’s reported pledge to release GHC130 million, Dr Okoe Boye insisted that “commitment alone does not pay debt.”
“Good intentions must translate into concrete action. To date, not a single cedi of the pledged amount has been released, and the contractor remains unpaid. We fear that any real funding may only appear in the 2026 Budget, further prolonging the suffering of residents,” he said.
On behalf of GAD, Dr Okoe Boye urged the Minister of Health to escalate the matter to the President and Cabinet, stressing that the people of La, Teshie, Osu, and surrounding coastal communities “deserve a functioning hospital, not more promises.”
