Gov’t, GMA clash over University of Ghana Teaching Hospital

The Ghana Medical Association has dismissed claims by the National Democratic Congress government that it constructed the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital.

President John Dramani Mahama during the highlights of the NDC manifesto in Accra touted the construction of the Hospital among other health facilities as part of his government’s achievements.

But the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Frank Serebuor in an interview on Abusua FM in Kumasi stated that government only served as a loan guarantor for the construction of the Hospital.

He added that the loan would be repaid by the university and not government.

“The University of Ghana Teaching hospital...is a private hospital, the university built it by seeking funding from Israel. I wasn’t surprised that the president during NDC manifesto highlights claimed ownership of the University of Ghana Teaching hospital, because sometimes politicians look at the infrastructural developments put up in the regime and claim ownership, as far as I know, government did not build that facility, it only guaranteed the loan for the establishment,” Dr. Serebuor said.

But a former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has challenged the claims by Dr. Serebuor insisting that government is responsible for the construction of the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital.

According to Dr. Duffuor, he was personally involved in seeking funds for the construction of the multi-million dollar project which is almost complete.

“Those who are making such allegations let me ask them this, if a Finance Minister presents papers covering a project to cabinet, and it’s approved in parliament, who seeks for the loan? Definitely it is Ghana government.

It’s really disturbing that some people are making such allegations. I was personally involved in the process of that loan as the Finance Minister and worked on all the papers. One Dr. Lawson was the Coordinator of this project; ask him the details of the project.

"Government sought for the loan for the University from Israel, I signed all the papers, they should come forward with their papers so that we debate the issue, all the documents can be found in the Finance and Health Ministries,” Dr. Duffuor added.