Editorial by Ghanaian Times: Reconstruction of La General Hospital must not fail

A few years back, the government demol­ished the La General Hospital to make way for the construction of a new hospital for improved healthcare delivery in the La Dadeko­topon Municipality and its environs.

The explanation that was given at the time of the demolition was that the hospital was in bad shape.

At the time, everyone was happy that the hospital that served many people in the eastern part of Accra was going to be reconstructed to ensure improved health delivery for them.

Unfortunately, many hopes were dashed when the prom­ised rehabilitation did not happen.

In fact, due to some un­explained reason the place for the reconstruction of the facility remains bare and residents in the area as well as members of the public are puzzled about the long delay in the reconstruction of the hospital.

Actually, during the long wait, some residents even had to embark on demonstra­tions to call attention to the long delay and reconstruc­tion of the facility.

The Ghanaian Times recalls during one of the demon­strations that the residents did not mince words when they spoke openly against the long delay and pointed fingers at some officials.

Again, we recall that some government officials prom­ised that the stalled project would soon take off and that the government was working hard to ensure the project was started.

Nothing has been heard since but thankfully, as we have published elsewhere in this issue, construction work is expected to start this month.

According to the Munici­pal Chief Executive (MCE) of La Dadekotopon Mu­nicipal Assembly, Solomon Kotey Nii Koi, the aban­doned project would begin this month.

He is quoted as saying that “the Regional Minister has assured me in the presence of other Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Accra that the project would begin in November.”

The MCE who said this at the Town hall meeting at La in Accra on Wednesday said the project was a priority and promised to ensure that it was constructed to promote healthcare delivery in the municipality.

He therefore urged residents to exercise patience whilst the government com­menced the reconstruction of the hospital.

This is not the first time we have heard such promises that did not yield the desired results.

We are hoping that the promise made by the MCE this time will not turn out to be the same as the previous ones.

We can understand the anxiety of the residents because the hospital that started as a small polyclinic and became a general hospital had served the people both far and near very well for so many years before it was demolished.

So, justifiably, the residents might have some emotional attachment to the hospital that took care of their health needs and, therefore, would be worried that the recon­struction of the hospital has been delayed for a long time.

It is our hope that the latest assurance will not fail as did the previous ones so that we will all see a new hospital for the people of La and its environs in the shortest possible time.