Operationalize just 10% of Agenda 111 hospitals – Dr. Asiedu Sarpong to NPP

Fellow at CDD-Ghana and pharmacist Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong has declared his conditional support for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), insisting he will vote for the party if they can operationalize at least 10% of the Agenda 111 initiative, which aims to establish new hospitals across Ghana.

He has stated, “If the NPP can operationalize 10% of Agenda 111 hospitals, I will vote for them”.

The Agenda 111 initiative was launched in August 2021 at Trede in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo promising to complete 111 hospitals within 18 months.

In an interview with Kojo Marfo on AbusuaNkommo at ABUSUA965FM, Dr. Sarpong expressed scepticism regarding the government’s ability to meet this target, citing his extensive background in healthcare policy.

He remarked, “When you’ve worked on something for a long time and experienced issues firsthand, you can clearly see when things are going wrong.

“But having worked in healthcare policy, I can clearly see when things are headed in the wrong direction. I knew they couldn’t operationalize even 11 facilities.”

He noted that despite assurances from the government about the commissioning of six hospitals in the Ashanti Region, questions about the readiness and functionality of those facilities have not been fully satisfied.

“They claim that six Agenda 111 hospitals in the Ashanti Region will be commissioned soon, but I wonder what level of completion or functionality these hospitals will have,” Dr Asiedu Sarpong wondered.

Dr. Sarpong made reference to a 2023 government report which revealed that 95% of existing facilities lack essential medical equipment, casting doubt on the readiness of new hospitals.

“The Health Harmonization assessment report released in 2023 reveals that only 5% of facilities had the full complement of basic consulting room examination set and physiological measurement and anthropometric equipment. This is not my document but the government's document”, he emphasized.

He quizzed, “With additional facilities yet to be commissioned, I ask: will the 5% with full equipment be reduced to 3% because the newly built facilities also lack equipment.”