In a move that has sparked political controversy, the Ministry of Health recently handed over five newly completed health facilities in the Eastern Region for operational use.
The facilities, located in Jumapo, Kwabeng, Nkwatia, Adukrom, and Achiase, have been heralded as a significant step towards improving healthcare access in the region.
However, the Eastern Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticized the government for what they describe as an attempt to “rewrite history” by failing to acknowledge the true origin of these projects.
According to the NPP, these health facilities were not initiated by the current administration but were rather the product of Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s long-term vision for healthcare infrastructure development.
The Eastern Regional Communication Directorate of the NPP had previously outlined how these projects were part of a broader initiative approved in April 2020 under Akufo-Addo’s leadership.
“Parliament secured a €79 million loan facility for the construction of eleven 40-bed hospitals and one polyclinic, five of which were designated for the Eastern Region,” the Regional Communications Director, Evans Osei Yeboah emphasized.
Yet, in the Ministry of Health’s official announcement, there was no mention of the former president’s role in laying the foundation for these developments.
The NPP contends that the current government is attempting to claim undue credit for projects they had little to do with beyond their handing over.
“This is a blatant attempt to rewrite history and deny Ghanaians the truth about who truly championed these critical healthcare developments,” the party’s statement read.
They further criticized what they described as a dangerous precedent of erasing the achievements of predecessors for political gain
A Legacy of Development Under Akufo-Addo
Beyond these five hospitals, the former president’s administration initiated multiple other major healthcare projects in the Eastern Region.
These include:
The Eastern Regional Hospital Expansion: A 600-bed facility, with the first phase of 285 beds currently under construction, aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in the region.
Agenda 111 Projects: District hospitals under construction in Ofoase, Apegusu, Coaltar, Akim Swedru, Tease, Adeiso, Manso, and Abomosu.
Anyinam Trauma Hospital: A specialized facility designed to enhance emergency healthcare in the region.
Retooling of Kwahu-Atibie Hospital: Part of a €40 million contract to upgrade four key hospitals.
Drone Medical Delivery System: Suhum hosts the first drone distribution center for essential medical supplies.
According to NPP officials, all these projects were carefully planned, initiated, and in various stages of execution before the current administration took over.
“Ignoring these facts only exposes the lack of sincerity in their public communication,” the statement said. “The reality remains that Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo laid a solid foundation for healthcare infrastructure in the Eastern Region.”
A Call for Honesty in Governance
The NPP is urging the current administration to recognize and credit the work of previous governments instead of engaging in what they call “selective storytelling.”
The statement warned that “Ghana’s development must be a continuous process, not a game of political point-scoring.”
–BY Daniel Bampoe
