Mahama And Ridge Hospital Renovation "Armed Robbery"

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Concerned citizen 11 years ago

Interesting. How can this happen in Kwame Nkrumah Ghana? We must as well sell this country.

Interesting. How can this happen in Kwame Nkrumah Ghana? We must as well sell this country.
Joseph Haruna 11 years ago

How can this be? 220 bed facility cost five times more to build than 400 bed facility? Only under Mahamah government.

How can this be? 220 bed facility cost five times more to build than 400 bed facility? Only under Mahamah government.
BERNARD TETTEH 11 years ago

You ask why people are not angry? Well the answer is that there are some of us who realize that a thoughtful contemplation of issues is best accomplished in a tranquil demeanor.

When you are stirred up like a beastly jac ...
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You ask why people are not angry? Well the answer is that there are some of us who realize that a thoughtful contemplation of issues is best accomplished in a tranquil demeanor.

When you are stirred up like a beastly jackass you revert to your base animistic and simplistic village mentality. It is what clouds your judgement and renders you incapable of rationalizing the most simple fact.

Let me break it down to you:

It will cost more to RENOVATE an old facility than it costs to build a new one. That is because you have to factor in the relocation cost of the existing facility services, the demolition cost, and disposal of hazardous materials; like asbestos and lead.

Additionally, the labor cost of a truncated work day that is attendant to working only during periods that will not be disruptive to daytime patients and night-time construction noise mitigation, all impacts to an inflated time-line and consequently cost. Time is money, you know?

Don't make a complete fool of yourself. Keep calm, reflect on all the salient points I indicated to you, then do your research and come back with precise information ..instead of inane questions designed to inflame others into the same stupor of pronounced idiocy that you exhibit.

Shed your partisan stripes and stop making libelous accusations.. DARN!!!
BERNARD TETTEH 11 years ago

www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/2012-02-08-08-32-47/general-news/4886-parliament-approves-contract-for-ridge-hospital-rehabilitation-works

27 Feb 2014
Parliament Approves Contract for Ridge Hospital Rehabilitation Works

Par ...
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www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/2012-02-08-08-32-47/general-news/4886-parliament-approves-contract-for-ridge-hospital-rehabilitation-works

27 Feb 2014
Parliament Approves Contract for Ridge Hospital Rehabilitation Works

Parliament yesterday approved a commercial agreement between the government and Messrs Bouygues Bartiment International, for the design, construction, procurement and installation of equipment for the rehabilitation of the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

The project, which has already begun, is expected to be completed in 2016, and is being financed with a Government of Ghana mixed credit facility of 250 million US dollars from Exim Bank and the HSBC Bank.

The rehabilitation works is expected to provide the Hospital with ultra-modern facilities and a 420-bed capacity to improve quality and expand access to health care delivery, particularly to its immediate catchment area.

The Hospital is designed to contain components, such as the Civil, mechanical and electrical works for covering a comprehensive Diagnostic and Treatment block to ensure a 24- hour surgical service.

Accommodation for 42 staff members, school of anesthesia, 100 bodies capacity mortuary, main road and car park would also be constructed as part of the Project.

Other components of the facility include an Imaging Department, Delivery Unit, Accident and Emergency Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency ICU as well as a Burns Unit.

A report of the Committee on Health on the agreement, said the hospital would witness a face lift with medical support including pharmacy, laboratory, central sterilisation, logistics support, among others.

It said the committee was informed that as a result of the location of the hospital, it was currently facing an increase in workload especially, in both the maternity unit and child health department.

?There are times where women have to be put on the floor after delivery to free a labour bed for another woman. In addition, pregnant women in labour sometimes have to wait in queues for their turn,? it said and added that the congestion at the child health department did not auger well for the hospital.

The committee noted that the rehabilitation of the hospital would help address the aforementioned concerns that had affected service delivery in the hospital.

The Report indicated that the existing hospital structure was too old and despite the number of renovation works at the hospital, it was not enough to position the hospital for better delivery.

It therefore stressed the need for contractors to complete work on schedule to enhance its service delivery in the region.

The project when completed would improve access to maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health services, intensify the prevention and control of communicable diseases, improve institutional care, including mental health service delivery and promote healthy lifestyles among Ghanaians.

Source: ISD (Gilbert Ankrah)
SARPONG I 11 years ago

Idiot the Ridge hospital will add 220 more beds to the existing,200 to make it 420 beds, you moron.

Read what the second phase of the Tamale hospital that will cost $60 million is providing in terms of amenities. It will p ...
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Idiot the Ridge hospital will add 220 more beds to the existing,200 to make it 420 beds, you moron.

Read what the second phase of the Tamale hospital that will cost $60 million is providing in terms of amenities. It will provide more amenities than what the Ridge hospital would, you stupid incestuous son of an intestinal parasite.
BERNARD TETTEH 11 years ago

Like I wrote before, get educated and do your basic research. My contemptuous attitude towards you is borne out by the deliberate mendacity you offer, even in your article title. The reconstruction at Ridge hospital is a "Reh ...
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Like I wrote before, get educated and do your basic research. My contemptuous attitude towards you is borne out by the deliberate mendacity you offer, even in your article title. The reconstruction at Ridge hospital is a "Rehabilitation" and not a renovation. Tamale was a renovation. There is also no "armed robbery" exposed by your trifling spiel.

It is much more costly to do a construction project where you not only tear out the old and put in new elements, as you would in a renovation, but you preserve the character of an antiquated construction in a rehabilitation.

I will clarify that for you:

If the Ridge Hospital was completely demolished and a new facility put in it's place there is only the additional cost of the demolition, in addition to the new construction. In a rehabilitation, where the previous architectural elements are maintained, it is much more costly, because methods of building a long time ago used materials that are prohibitively expensive today.

An example will be the extensive use of cooper for troughs, rain gutters, downspouts, roofing, and in the ornate building facades from the past. Cooper is exponentially and prohibitively more expensive today, so it is no longer used for the items mentioned, except to preserve the character of a historic relic.

Another commonly seen feature of old construction is the necessity to have massive foundation walls and load-bearing elements, due to the unavailability and lack of reinforced steel bars (Rebar, or Ironbar)in previous concrete forms. The introduction of steel in construction elements is what allows tall structures that do not need thick bottoms and it also allows open spans over greater distances.

The rehabilitation project at Ridge hospital will be preserving the historical aspects and more modern amenities will be added. This rehabilitation is in itself a cure for the many previous renovations to the facility, which failed to adequately address the functional obsolescence of a very aged hospital.

I could delve into the vast differences between all the different hospitals you mention in your farcical comparison of costs, but I will just focus on your most glaring obfuscation and flat-out treacherous lie. Eighty beds were added to an existing hospital in Tamale, whereas almost three times that number will be added to Ridge hospital.

You refuse to acknowledge the trauma unit, neonatal facility, diagnostic radiology, staff residences, roads, and many other facilities being added at Ridge Hospital, which were absent, or on a smaller scale from the other projects. The simple fact is that Ridge hospital is a vastly more diversified and differentiated facility from all the others you compare to.

Your attacks on our current President is reminiscent of the polemics offered by Nana Amma Obenewaa about the previous NPP government and which I vigorously countered with the truth.

You are more recalcitrant in shedding your malignant compulsion to flat-out lies and maligning of our sitting President. You display a perfidious trait of calculated and deliberate unscrupulousness.

Adjust your attitude and reform, before I make you my pet project again, by drumming some sense into you. For real!! Lately you have been treading on thin-ice and the slippery slope of inflated self-importance. I am very adept at cutting overblown egos down-to-size and you will not want me on your case!!

You wrote:

"Idiot the Ridge hospital will add 220 more beds to the existing,200 to make it 420 beds, you moron."

Who is the greater fool for not finding out exactly how many more beds were added at Tamale? I am inclined to believe that you know, but you just had to twist the facts to fit your falsity?

You are a dangerous provocateur, so I will watch you vigilantly. This is your wake-up call. Try some more weaseling agitprop and I'll crush you with overwhelming truths. It will be an elementary exercise in reducing your currency, further. This forum is getting better informed about your verisimilitude and dissimilitude. You ain't gonna git away with noddin... LOL!!
BERNARD TETTEH 11 years ago

This forum is getting better informed about your verisimilitude and dissimulation*.

There is indeed "dissimilitude" amongst all the projects you dissemble about.. LOL!!

This forum is getting better informed about your verisimilitude and dissimulation*.

There is indeed "dissimilitude" amongst all the projects you dissemble about.. LOL!!
SARPONG 11 years ago

CHEW ON THIS

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
Date: 07-04-2014 Time: 03:04:03:pm

The Minority in Parliament is demanding immediate review of the contract on Ridge Hospital refurbishment, suspecting t ...
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CHEW ON THIS

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
Date: 07-04-2014 Time: 03:04:03:pm

The Minority in Parliament is demanding immediate review of the contract on Ridge Hospital refurbishment, suspecting that the nation has been short-changed.

It has vowed that it will not relent on its efforts to ensure greater transparency in the award of government contracts in spite of impediments put in its way.

Addressing a news conference in Accra today on what it considers to be the true state of the nation, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu cited the refurbishment of the Ridge Hospital as one clear example of a case, which requires thorough investigation.

Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent, Elton John Brobbey reported the Minority Leader as saying they would demand greater transparency and ensure that ministers of state appear before Parliament to respond to urgent questions.

According to him, the Ridge Hospital, for instance, when completed, will cost the nation 675 dollars per square meter.

In his estimation, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu believes the hospital would probably be the most expensive hospital in the world.

Parliament in February approved a commercial agreement between the government and Messrs Bouygues Bartiment International, for the design, construction, procurement and installation of equipment for the rehabilitation of the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

But the Minority is relying on a report by a UK international company, Crown Agents, which states that the $305 million contract price was overpriced.

The company has estimated the project to cost 162 million dollars, which the Minority Leader said if government had listened to the advice of Crown Agents, employed by the state to conduct due diligence on the refurbishment project, the nation would have made a “minimum saving of 142 million dollars”.

He is certain the Ministry of Health would be exposed “to an unacceptable level of risk” for engaging in such a contract.

Insisting that the agreement “does not offer value for money”, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu wants the agreement brought back to parliament for further scrutiny, a step, the minority has already initiated.
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Concerned citizen 11 years ago

"It is worrying that the construction of the ridge hospital is going to turn out to be most expensive health facility in the world over. This, I am sure because the cost per a square meter is 6,757 dollars. That is unknown an ...
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"It is worrying that the construction of the ridge hospital is going to turn out to be most expensive health facility in the world over. This, I am sure because the cost per a square meter is 6,757 dollars. That is unknown anywhere in the world."
SARPONG 11 years ago

Let m apologize for responding to your insults, I am really sorry because I am not on this crusade for persona vendetta but to put all Politicians in Ghana on note that, we are not going to sit down anymore for them to cheat ...
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Let m apologize for responding to your insults, I am really sorry because I am not on this crusade for persona vendetta but to put all Politicians in Ghana on note that, we are not going to sit down anymore for them to cheat us, sorry again for responding to your insults, I should have made it slide.

First, let me clarify for you that, the Tamale Teaching Hospital in two phases that will cost the taxpayers about $110 million together is a bigger project than the Ridge Hospital.

If you insist the Ridge Hospital project is a 420 bed renovation, then the Tamale Hospital renovation is an 800 bed renovation project because te Ridge Hospital already has 200 beds and the new project will add another 220 to make it a 420 bed renovation the same like Tamale Hospital that ha 320 bed and the completion of the second phase will make it a 800 bed renovation if you want to go on that routé.

Tell me what is different from what they are doing at Ridge that s different from what they are doing at Tamale. Are they not going to do the same ting about the demolition aspect and all what you enumerated about Ridge to Tamale Teaching Hospital?

I am not here on personal agenda but trying to make sure Ghanaians are going to get value for their money. It has nothing to do with self gratification, ok? Below are some of the amenities that the $110 million Tamale project will get us, tell forums what the Ridge hospital will give Ghanaians that make it o cost more than twice what we are getting for Tamale despite the fact that, the Tamale project is almost twice bigger than the Ridge hospital project.

BELOW IS WHAT WE ARE GETTING FO $110 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE TAMALE PROJECT WITH TWICE MORE BEDS.

The first phase, involving the rehabilitation and expansion of existing structures and installation of new equipment, cost 39. 3 million euros, while the second phase will cost 48.5 million euros. The two projects are expected to add a major boost to the government's quest to develop the hospital into an international facility of excellence.

five-storey block with medical and surgical wards,

faculty offices, tutorial and conference rooms

a second five-storey block with operating theatres, maternity wards and facilities;

a three-story accident and emergency building and reception area, as well as beds for emergencies.

Others are: a link building

a new mortuary with pathology unit and laboratory

a new medical gases plant; assorted medical equipment;

ancillary facilities including power plant; waste management section

staff accommodation..

BERNARD TETTEH 11 years ago

I also apologize for my mordant and caustic denunciation of your mis-statements. An example of what I take umbrage with is this false assertion from you:

"Teshie hospital has similar facilities and amenities as the yet-to- ...
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I also apologize for my mordant and caustic denunciation of your mis-statements. An example of what I take umbrage with is this false assertion from you:

"Teshie hospital has similar facilities and amenities as the yet-to-be-commenced Ridge Hospital project"

Lekma hospital is essentially a malaria research facility and is in no way comparatively similar to Ridge Regional Hospital.

I think it is prudent to wait until a parliamentary investigation reveals any malfeasance before labeling a publicly funded and duly approved project, by the legislative branch, as armed robbery. To so flippantly make such assertions of fraud, without evidence, is insalubrious to civil society and those who will get infuriated over unfounded conjecture.

If we don't know enough then it behooves us to research the facts rather than draw conclusions from flimsy extrapolation of sparse information.

I appreciate your effort to offer more information on the clamoring by the shrill minority in parliament over the project. It seems more of a contrived ploy with the political machinations of an entrenched opposition, than a thoughtful re-examination of cot over-runs.

We definitely should wait for evidences to be offered instead of farcical comparisons. Hyperbole,like "most expensive hospital in the world", is of no substance. What if it is? Is that because it would offer the best service in the world?

That is the germane facts which we need to explore; the value for money and not some glib reference to square meter cost. Since when has MRI machine and other medical equipment been measured for their cost by how much dimensions they occupy on the hospital floor?

Feeble minds are quick to respond to such polemics, but it does not serve the public interest to be mis-educated, so that we withdraw our mis-informed consent to a project that serves a severe need.
Ghanaba 11 years ago

Why don't you go suck your own fucking dick Asante Monkey Sarpong? Who do u fucking think you are? These stupid Asante/Akyem Cokrocaites

Why don't you go suck your own fucking dick Asante Monkey Sarpong? Who do u fucking think you are? These stupid Asante/Akyem Cokrocaites
CARDINAL 11 years ago

You sound like a trokosi who has just finished fucking his daughter, you toilet maggot.

You sound like a trokosi who has just finished fucking his daughter, you toilet maggot.
KWAKU 11 years ago

Bernard, please listen to yourself. So you mean the government could have built the 400-bed state-of-the-art Tamale hospital in Accra at a fifth of the cost of the current Ridge renovation, but decided against that because o ...
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Bernard, please listen to yourself. So you mean the government could have built the 400-bed state-of-the-art Tamale hospital in Accra at a fifth of the cost of the current Ridge renovation, but decided against that because of what? Maybe you could enlighten us. What is the difference between the Tamale and Ridge hospitals, in terms of facilities and amenities? I am still not discerning the difference in facilities and amenities.

I disagree with you that renovations cost more than new constructions. I have been a project manager for close to two decades. It will be crazy to justify spending the same amount of resources for a renovation as could be spent on a new construction, all other factors being equal.

Man-hours determine cost, and not time by itself. Also, payment for off-hours is calculated as time and a half. So the additional costs you are referring to are only significantly affected by labor. Parts (materials) costs could only marginally be affected. Good project management could marginalize the additional labor costs.

The fact of the matter is that this project is about US$200 million over-budget. Phasing out the project could also eliminate the worry of interrupting regular operations. The project needs to be revisited.
Nii 11 years ago

Nation wreckers like you are the ones who will close their eyes and look on for this country to run down due plain thievery by politicians.how can you build a hospital at the unit cost of $1,390,000 per bed . No matter what t ...
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Nation wreckers like you are the ones who will close their eyes and look on for this country to run down due plain thievery by politicians.how can you build a hospital at the unit cost of $1,390,000 per bed . No matter what this is ridiculous and it is the most expensive hospital project in the world. Even in Hong Kong one of the most expensive cities in the world, hospitals are built at $3,000/m2 and not your 6,100 at Ridge Hospital. You guys are obviously sick.
BERNARD TETTEH 11 years ago

You just don't get it? If you can't help it because of a developmentally challenged midget brain and need to be educated by persistent inculcation with sound education, then here it is, again:

A MRI machine costs a few mil ...
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You just don't get it? If you can't help it because of a developmentally challenged midget brain and need to be educated by persistent inculcation with sound education, then here it is, again:

A MRI machine costs a few million dollars, and so does even engineering the design of a hospital; because of that fact a facility utilizing all of those things, as part of a rehabilitation, will not have it's costs measured by the square meter.

You have be be informed on the items the money will be spent on in order to be critical of any waste you perceive. It is not lavish and profligacy,if the bulk of the money is being spent on essential medical equipment. The number of beds and floorspace is not what defines a hospital.

Darn!!Why do idiots take stupidity and run with it? Get a f*cking grip!! How can people be so brainwashed and lulled into profound befuddlement by devious politicians?

You took the time to research how much it cost to build the floorspace of some hospital in Hong Kong and forgot that Accra is in an earthquake zone that needs a different and more reinforced construction method?

Therein lies the blatant stupidity that is glaringly on display. Shuttered minds being exposed by sauntering forth with bold pronouncements of idiotic statements.

You have the temerity to label anyone as a "nation-wrecker"? It's retards like you who should be culled from the herd of useless humans who have overpopulated Ghana.

Unchecked making of idiot babies, like you, is the reason the nation is getting wrecked.

Someone should have taken you to the back of the shed and disposed of you, long ago... darn!! You really got my goat. I am sick alright. Sick of fools like you!!!
SARPONG I 11 years ago

Idiot, you are not making any sense. The Tamale hospital first phase that cost $50 million with 400 beds was a renovation work like Ridge hospital so what are you worthless faggot without any need of a dick talking about? Is ...
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Idiot, you are not making any sense. The Tamale hospital first phase that cost $50 million with 400 beds was a renovation work like Ridge hospital so what are you worthless faggot without any need of a dick talking about? Is your eczema irritating you or you have soiled your smelly self and your Nurses Aide has refused to change your diapers, you piece of crap.

Are stupid or you have a lobotomy done on you? If renovating an old hospital cost more than to build a new one as you said, will it not make sense to build a new one? Has your sickness infested your brain to atrophy you cannot reason like a normal human being? You moron has an IQ of a rotten egg, you douchebag.
Kwapps 11 years ago

You two have made some interesting observations but do you have to go and spoil it all by calling each other names? Look at how Kwaku handled himself, shouldn't you two be learning from him!

Sarpong, i think you sound a bi ...
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You two have made some interesting observations but do you have to go and spoil it all by calling each other names? Look at how Kwaku handled himself, shouldn't you two be learning from him!

Sarpong, i think you sound a bit alarmist in that you clearly lack all the facts. You are comparing Tamale and Ridge contracts yet you are unable to back them up with details of the terms. Sometimes we all fall prey to comparing items that look or sound similar but turn out a lot different than we thought.

Tetteh, you drew my attention to a few things I hadn't considered but here again you do not have access to the finer details of any of the contracts even though you sound restraint which I admire a lot. However, your assertion that renovations cost more than new builds is where I disagree with you. I have been involved in both types of construction and know their associated costs!
Auntie Rose 11 years ago

Some renovations may cost more than new build and BT is right on that. Other renovations may cost less than new build.

But at d end of it all, two different projects, different locations and diff. Expectations in quality.

Some renovations may cost more than new build and BT is right on that. Other renovations may cost less than new build.

But at d end of it all, two different projects, different locations and diff. Expectations in quality.
KKO 11 years ago

Some of us Ghanaians have a very strange sense of patriotism. That is why these nit wits in government have been taking us for long, bumpy rides. How could anyone accept the concept that renovation/expansion of a hospital sho ...
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Some of us Ghanaians have a very strange sense of patriotism. That is why these nit wits in government have been taking us for long, bumpy rides. How could anyone accept the concept that renovation/expansion of a hospital should cost more than building a modern, first class hospital? In most civilised industries anytime refurbishment/repair costs get higher than half the cost of a brand new facility, people go for the brand new version.

For instance, between re-entering an oil/gas old well and drilling a new one, most operators would go for a completely new well because it is always difficult to determine the conditions of the well with precision. It is the same with home appliances, clothes, shoes and household furniture.

There is no way anyone can justify this plain thievery in any shape or form. Like European Hospital in Takoradi, Ridge Hospital must have been built as a small facility on a small piece of land for Europeans. No amount of additions is going to make it serve the kind of populations that Korle Bu or even 37 serves. So putting $306m or even $250m in such a project is sheer stupidity. Half of it can build several polyclinics in different parts of the Accra Metropolis, to serve a more useful purpose!

SARPONG 11 years ago

KKO, it is really sad how some well educated people can justify this plain thievery. I have uncovered more bombshell on why this project is costing too much. Initially the credit facility approved to provide all the facilitie ...
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KKO, it is really sad how some well educated people can justify this plain thievery. I have uncovered more bombshell on why this project is costing too much. Initially the credit facility approved to provide all the facilities for the renovation was for $155 million. Look for another article on this issue here again tomorrow. We will force them to reduce this amount on this project.
SARPONG 11 years ago

You are not being candid and trying to take sides. I have provided a link where you can check the amenities the Tamale hospital is providing on the second phase, 400 beds, almost twice the 220 beds by Ridge.

Two five stor ...
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You are not being candid and trying to take sides. I have provided a link where you can check the amenities the Tamale hospital is providing on the second phase, 400 beds, almost twice the 220 beds by Ridge.

Two five story buldings, one three story building and others including lecture rooms. Tamale Hospital is a teaching hospital that will have more amenities.

I don't have any problem when somebody disagree with me but Benard Tetteh should not have started this debate with his usual bullying tactics with insults.

If you want the truth, you could have found out that it was him who started it and this clod of an old fool called Bernard Tetteh has crossed the line with me and I am not the one to be bullied.
attajames45 11 years ago

oh ndc and stealing every minister want to his or her 20%.

oh ndc and stealing every minister want to his or her 20%.
Agbovi Hohoe 11 years ago

Concerned Citizen,No one will buy Ghana when it goes on world market for sale.Ghana is now owing $58billion .Who will invest 58billion on a waste and corrupt citizens.Even if we are lucky to have somebody to buy, the Money wi ...
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Concerned Citizen,No one will buy Ghana when it goes on world market for sale.Ghana is now owing $58billion .Who will invest 58billion on a waste and corrupt citizens.Even if we are lucky to have somebody to buy, the Money will go into the pockets of few officials,leaving us slaves.
Kojo 11 years ago

If this is not plain stealing then I don't know what it is.

If this is not plain stealing then I don't know what it is.
AKONFEM MAHAMA 11 years ago

LET THEM DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE POOR.
GOD WILL PUNISH THESE POLITICIAN WHO DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE POOR SUFFERING MASSES

LET THEM DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE POOR.
GOD WILL PUNISH THESE POLITICIAN WHO DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE POOR SUFFERING MASSES
Serious Talk 11 years ago

Maybe the price difference has to do with the level of Cokrocaites (Asante/Akyem) infestation in the regions. Accra has a lot of yours truly(Cardinal of Truth) tribesmen with their legendary kalabule and that's why it cost mo ...
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Maybe the price difference has to do with the level of Cokrocaites (Asante/Akyem) infestation in the regions. Accra has a lot of yours truly(Cardinal of Truth) tribesmen with their legendary kalabule and that's why it cost more. It's this "infestation" Nkrumah tried to "eradicate" with the introduction of the Preventive Detention Act. Unfortunately you and your Monkey tribesmen are here today with your smelling crap. Pathetic
The Saint 11 years ago

The trokosi smelly incestuous toilet maggots have taken over the Ridge contract and that is the problem.

The trokosi smelly incestuous toilet maggots have taken over the Ridge contract and that is the problem.
Antiochus - London 11 years ago

It's all about create, loot and share.

It's all about create, loot and share.
princewilly@ymail.com 11 years ago

Taking his seat in his chambers, the judge faced the opposing lawyers. "So," he said, "I have been presented, by both of you, with a bribe."
Both lawyers squirmed uncomfortably. "You, attorney Leon, gave me $15,000. And you, ...
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Taking his seat in his chambers, the judge faced the opposing lawyers. "So," he said, "I have been presented, by both of you, with a bribe."
Both lawyers squirmed uncomfortably. "You, attorney Leon, gave me $15,000. And you, attorney Campos, gave me $10,000." The judge reached into his pocket and pulled out a check. He handed it to Leon.
"Now then, I'm returning $5,000, and we're going to decide this case solely on its merits."'

K Owusu 11 years ago

NDC has already started stealing money ahead of 2016.We should watch them carefully.

NDC has already started stealing money ahead of 2016.We should watch them carefully.
Luther King 11 years ago

When will Ghanaians speak the truth and place ghana first instead of party politics? Sarpong completely misses the point and delibrately wants to misinform.

First, its not possible to build a state of the art clinic with ...
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When will Ghanaians speak the truth and place ghana first instead of party politics? Sarpong completely misses the point and delibrately wants to misinform.

First, its not possible to build a state of the art clinic with $12m let alone a 1000 bed hospital. Remember, gushegu hospital, a primary level health facility with 60 beds was built by k4 for $22m.

Secondly, in ghana, health facilities are categorized into three main types - primary, secondary, and tertiary . So to compare a primary level health facility like lekma constructed by a Chinese firm to a tertiary facility like ridge is just ridiculous.

Thirdly, a 400 bed hospital was not constructed in tamale. The existing hospital already had a bed capacity of 320 beds. So only 80 beds were added .

You are asking questions and drawing conclusions on false premises. Lets be truthful and stop these baseless suspicions.
Yaw 11 years ago

Nation Destroyers' Congress(N.D.C) are at it again with their create, loot and share agenda. they don't take advice from even the experts they themselves hire with Ghana's money to advice them on issues so, why do they hire t ...
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Nation Destroyers' Congress(N.D.C) are at it again with their create, loot and share agenda. they don't take advice from even the experts they themselves hire with Ghana's money to advice them on issues so, why do they hire them in the first place? If not for thievery, why would a government still stick to a 306 million dollars cost when the same project can be done with 162 million dollars? Does the president have conscience at all, isn't he ashamed of all that is going on after his brothers debacle with the sale of Merchant Bank? In fact, does he have brains at all? How could he supervise such rot in government? John Mahama is a very big disappointment, and in all of these clear thieving of the state, we get people like Apaak, Kpessah White, and their boot-licking team showering praise on him. God have mercy on Ghana, and deliver us from these thieves.
SARPONG 11 years ago

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
Date: 07-04-2014 Time: 03:04:03:pm

The Minority in Parliament is demanding immediate review of the contract on Ridge Hospital refurbishment, suspecting that the nation ha ...
read full comment

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel
Date: 07-04-2014 Time: 03:04:03:pm

The Minority in Parliament is demanding immediate review of the contract on Ridge Hospital refurbishment, suspecting that the nation has been short-changed.

It has vowed that it will not relent on its efforts to ensure greater transparency in the award of government contracts in spite of impediments put in its way.

Addressing a news conference in Accra today on what it considers to be the true state of the nation, Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu cited the refurbishment of the Ridge Hospital as one clear example of a case, which requires thorough investigation.

Joy FM’s parliamentary correspondent, Elton John Brobbey reported the Minority Leader as saying they would demand greater transparency and ensure that ministers of state appear before Parliament to respond to urgent questions.

According to him, the Ridge Hospital, for instance, when completed, will cost the nation 675 dollars per square meter.

In his estimation, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu believes the hospital would probably be the most expensive hospital in the world.

Parliament in February approved a commercial agreement between the government and Messrs Bouygues Bartiment International, for the design, construction, procurement and installation of equipment for the rehabilitation of the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

But the Minority is relying on a report by a UK international company, Crown Agents, which states that the $305 million contract price was overpriced.

The company has estimated the project to cost 162 million dollars, which the Minority Leader said if government had listened to the advice of Crown Agents, employed by the state to conduct due diligence on the refurbishment project, the nation would have made a “minimum saving of 142 million dollars”.

He is certain the Ministry of Health would be exposed “to an unacceptable level of risk” for engaging in such a contract.

Insisting that the agreement “does not offer value for money”, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu wants the agreement brought back to parliament for further scrutiny, a step, the minority has already initiated.
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solange 11 years ago

God Will Punish Dem For Misusing Our Taxes Like Dat .thiefs.dey should slash dat 250 to 30 million dollars a chick of it

God Will Punish Dem For Misusing Our Taxes Like Dat .thiefs.dey should slash dat 250 to 30 million dollars a chick of it
KKO 11 years ago

Justice,
This fight must continue to the end. You may remember Ghana-Abbott Agreement. Back in late 1966/early 1967, the government of the NLC signed one such stinky agreement with Abbott Laboratories to provide phamarceutic ...
read full comment

Justice,
This fight must continue to the end. You may remember Ghana-Abbott Agreement. Back in late 1966/early 1967, the government of the NLC signed one such stinky agreement with Abbott Laboratories to provide phamarceutical services to guess who? The same Ministry of Health!

Dr Jones Ofori-Atta, then a senior lecturer in Economics at the Univerity of Ghana took it upon himself to fight the diabolical plan to dupe the people of Ghana (in the Legon Observer at the time.)Eventually the government relented and abrogated the agreement.

What is Shirley Aryeetey's cut in all this? Her friend and Godmother/protector Konadu Agyemang Rawlings had the effrontery the other to talk about greed and corrutpion. I wonder what she thinks about this hospital renovation scam.

Frankly, everything about this incompetent government stinks to the high heavens. What is really wrong with us the people of Ghana today?
Akua Mansa 11 years ago

We are pathetic as a people.

Greed, fraud incompetence is eating Ghana.

We shall forever remain slaves

We are pathetic as a people.

Greed, fraud incompetence is eating Ghana.

We shall forever remain slaves
Kdd 11 years ago

Come back and live on Ghana you fool and you can collect all the correct facts yourself, as you obviously can not read correctly to assimilate facts or research correctly

Look at all the articles you write , you are WRONG ...
read full comment

Come back and live on Ghana you fool and you can collect all the correct facts yourself, as you obviously can not read correctly to assimilate facts or research correctly

Look at all the articles you write , you are WRONG most of the time you need help

Stop trying to bring Ghana down to your rubbish level we need good things
SARPONG 11 years ago

"Come back and [live on Ghana]"?

Illiterate fool, do you understand the meaning of living on Ghana? Are you living on Ghana? No wonder you moronic idiot is 'pissed'.

I don't want to live on Ghana because I am capable o ...
read full comment

"Come back and [live on Ghana]"?

Illiterate fool, do you understand the meaning of living on Ghana? Are you living on Ghana? No wonder you moronic idiot is 'pissed'.

I don't want to live on Ghana because I am capable of working for a living unlike you thieves running around the Ministries stealing everything that is not bolted down.

I know why you are miffed because you are one of those people with low paying government jobs always begging people you are supposed to serve to give you "something something" before you do what you are paid to do.

Ofui, I need good things for Ghana too but that does not mean I have to pay three times the prevailing market price, you dumb clod.
Whatever 11 years ago

Are you suggesting that Mahama is the one who personally prepared the budget for the renovation of that hospital or what? You've got to have grounds for drawing in the presidents name and associating theft to it otherwise the ...
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Are you suggesting that Mahama is the one who personally prepared the budget for the renovation of that hospital or what? You've got to have grounds for drawing in the presidents name and associating theft to it otherwise the logical conclusion is that you just want score cheap political points and not that your main concern is the porky nature of the expenditure.
TEE 11 years ago

AND FOR THAT REASON HE IS STEALING MORE OF OUR WEALTH BEFORE HE LEAVES IN 2016

AND FOR THAT REASON HE IS STEALING MORE OF OUR WEALTH BEFORE HE LEAVES IN 2016
TEE 11 years ago

WHEN WILL THE INCOMPETENT MAHAAM AND HIS BUNCH OF ARMED ROBBERS NORTHERNERS THIEVES STOP THIEVING OUR STATE COFFERS PERIOD

WHEN WILL THE INCOMPETENT MAHAAM AND HIS BUNCH OF ARMED ROBBERS NORTHERNERS THIEVES STOP THIEVING OUR STATE COFFERS PERIOD
Kto 11 years ago

you are a tw@t. even your $10 million for 1000 beds in Nigeria you are "simple" one day someone will sue you please stop all these stupid articles for years you write total sh@t you are for "laugh" . Come back to Ghana.

...
read full comment

you are a tw@t. even your $10 million for 1000 beds in Nigeria you are "simple" one day someone will sue you please stop all these stupid articles for years you write total sh@t you are for "laugh" . Come back to Ghana.

Ministry of Health rubbishes overpricing Ridge Hospital claims
Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Date: 16-04-2014 Time: 08:04:59:am
Ridge Hospital

The Ministry of Health has rubbished reports of alleged bloating of a contract price for the re-construction and up-grading of the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

The Minority in Parliament, a couple of weeks ago, raised concerns about the cost of the project and subsequently vowed to halt what they term as the “fraudulent” $306 million project.

According to them, the deal was approved on their blindside, adding that it is damaging to the national interest and must not be allowed to proceed. The group also estimated that Ghana will lose $85 million if the $306 million deal goes ahead.

Pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), which is also pushing for a thorough investigation into the alleged shady deal insists that, the contract has been overpriced by $142 million.

But the Ministry in a release on Tuesday stated; “there is no evidence whatsoever to justify that the contract price has been bloated and that it is the most expensive hospital in the world.”

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital is conceived as an ultra-modern hospital with 620 in-patient and intensive care and day care beds providing health care services in medical and surgical specialties and sub-specialties.

“Cabinet at its 36th meeting held on Thursday, 2nd August, 2012 granted approval for the two Credit Agreements between Government of Ghana and Export-Import Bank of United States for an amount of US$157,500,000.00 and HSBC Bank for an amount of US$92,500,000.OO respectively…We wish to state that this project has really gone through all the necessary statutory approvals and laid down procedures for procuring single source projects,” the document partly read.

The full content of the document is reproduced below:

Position Paper On The Major Rehabilation And Upgrade Of The Greater Accra Regional Hospital At Ridge, Accra As At 8th April, 2014.

The re-construction of Ridge hospital is in line with Government of Ghana's quest to provide every Region in Ghana with an ultra-modern secondary level referral Regional Hospital.

Messrs Bouygues Batiment International (BBI) submitted a proposal for the major Rehabilitation and Upgrade of Ridge Hospital to Greater Accra Regional Hospital through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 7th June, 2011 after the Attorney General's advice on the terms and conditions of the said MOU on 24th May, 2011.

The MOU clearly indicated a 629Bed Regional Hospital.

A stakeholder meeting was subsequently held to discuss the proposed design by BBI on 1st September, 2011. Following this meeting, the Contractors were then requested to submit financial terms sheet and conditions of their offer to Ministry of Finance for their acceptability of the financial terms. The Ministry of Finance on 31st January, 2012 officially wrote to inform the Ministry of Health to proceed with other processes leading to the realization of the project.

A joint Cabinet Memo was then initiated after receipt of a draft Terms and Conditions of the loan agreement from HSBC Bank of London and United States Exim Bank. The Ministry of Health then sent a joint Cabinet Memo to Cabinet on 17th May, 2012.

Cabinet at its 36th meeting held on Thursday, 2nd August, 2012 granted approval for the two Credit Agreements between Government of Ghana and Export-Import Bank of United States for an amount of US$157,500,000.00 and HSBC Bank for an amount of US$92,500,000.OO respectively.

Subsequent to the Cabinet approval, a joint Parliamentary Memo was also sent to Parliament for approval. Parliament at its 57th Sitting held on Thursday, 16th August, 2012 also approved by Resolution the two Credit Agreements between Government of Ghana and USA Exim Bank and HSBC Bank respectively. The approvals were communicated in two separate letters from parliament to the Ministry of Health on 1ih August, 2012.

The Ministry of Health at this point wrote to the Public Procurement Authority to request for their approval to sale source Messrs BBI and got the approval on 13th December, 2012. Single Source Procurement was used to fulfill the terms and conditions in the Financial Agreements.

The Ministry of Health after reviewing all the designs and the proposed contract documents submitted by the Contractor, officially forwarded the documents including the designs to Ministry of Finance for Value-for-Money assessment and negotiations thereof on is" December, 2012.

Crown Agents released their first report on the Value for Money Assessment in July, 2013. The report largely requested for some clarifications to which MOH and the Contractor responded. The final Report was then released on 15th" September 2013. A GOG team meeting was held on 30th September to discuss the report submitted by Crown Agents and to agree on points for negotiations with the Contractors.

Project Components

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital is conceived as an ultra-modern hospital with 620 in-patient and intensive care and day care beds providing health care services in medical and surgical specialties and sub-specialties.

The proposed project shall be a compact medium rise building and associated electromechanical installations comprises construction of a second level hospital with teaching and ancillary facilities. The key departments include the following:

1. Surgery

2. Radiology (MRI, CT Scan, X-Ray, ECG and Ultrasound)

3. Internal Medicine

4. Pharmacy

5. Maternal and Pediatric care

6. Accident Emergency

7. Ear, Nose and Throat

8. Ophthalmology

9. Dermatology

10. Physiotherapy

11. Dentistry

12. Urology

13. Cardiology

14. Laboratory

15. Anesthesia

16. Teaching

17. Administration and support Services Comprising Catering, stores CSSD, Transport, Laundry, Maintenance and Mortuary

18. Medical Gas systems

19. Sewerage Treatment Plant

20. Landscaping

21. Roads

22. 500 Parking areas

23. Drainage

24. Transformers to support Electricity Supply and Back-up Power Generators

25. Telephone

26. Internet connectivity

27. Supply and Installation of Medical and Non-medical Equipment

28. 84 Staff Housing Accommodation for medical officers, nurses, technicians, overnight and emergency staff.

The Contractor responded to the above requirements to cost about USD$306,000,000 but due to Ministry of Finance's credit limit on borrowing in 2012, Government could only borrow an amount of USD$ 250,000,000.

On the basis of the limitation in government's capacity to borrow, the Contractor was requested to submit a proposal tailored to the reduced budget. It was therefore agreed with the Contractor to implement the project in stages hence the two phases.

It should be emphasized however, that, the design has been done for a 620 bed to encompass all the requirements above for which all the technical support services are enshrined in phase 1.

A design proposals and cost for a 620 bed hospital to be implemented in two phases -but allowing the first phase to be fully functioning even if phase 2 was not built- was therefore forwarded to Ministry of Finance for Value for money assessment as a single-source turnkey arrangement based on the FIDIC EPC.

Conditions of Contract Yellow Book 1999. .

Messrs Crown Agents issued their first report in July, 2013. The report sought for some clarifications on the Contractor's proposals to which MOH and the Contractor responded. Some of the clarifications are the following;

1. Clarifications on BOQ

2. Floor areas disparities

3. Phasing

4. Technical specifications (architectural engineering, electro-mechanical)

5. Medical equipment and training requirements

As part of the processes it is a procedure to have the negotiations moderated by the body that issues the VFM report. A Government of Ghana team comprising of Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health therefore met to review the final VFM report from Crown Agents on 30th September, 2013.

Crown Agents moderated the meeting under the chairmanship of Ministry of Finance. The GOG team agreed on the points for negotiations to meet with the contractor on 2nd October, 2013.

The major issue that was negotiated upon, was the pricing. The contractor justified their offer by indicating that they were not over-priced by $142M as has been indicated in the report. After extensive negotiations and justification by the contractor, Crown Agents were still of the opinion that the project cost could still be reduced by $88,254,720.

The issues and reasons for which CAGL stripped the unit cost of BBI from an estimated $6757/m2 to the EFMP of $3000/m2 was then the focus of the negotiations.

Subsequently, BBI in their analysis put forward further justifications which are specific to the Ridge Hospital project and which justify the contractor’s pricing.

The estimated Fair Market Price by Crown Agents was considered unreasonable and under estimated for the kind of hospital and Employer’s specifications under consideration.

In comparison to the recently procured Legon hospital, the Contractor further emphasized that the total 54, 144m2 of the Ridge Hospital project are entirely developed and fitted out and that neither 'Shell & Core only' areas provided for future spaces is considered under the Ridge Hospital space programme.

After a detailed discussion, the Parties agreed as follows:

• That some of the considerations for additional prices cannot be fully justified. This is in reference to an additional 10% assigned to the cost of providing full turnkey solution and exhaustive FFE provisions. A package that is taken into account of the Legon unit cost as well. On the basis of the BBI’s price breakdown provided in table of appendix C, the employer should pursue a discount.

• That the BBI estimated adjusted EFMP is $5637m/ for construction of both phases 1 and 2

Further negotiation on Price resulted in the following:

The Contractor agreed to accommodate the following items as part of their project cost.

• BBI considers that there will be additional costs in insurance, transportation of materials and equipment due to the source of supply.

• BBI agreed to provide funding to support the employer's Project Management Organisation (PMO).

• Provision shall be made for both user and technical consumables for one. Year under the medical equipment package.

• Double the number of staff housing units

• Provide 3 years maintenance program on major items

The meeting then requested for the price breakdown of all additional items to which BBI obliged. The final offer from BBI came to 9% ($27,085,715) which when further broken down comes to 8% ($17,812,195) savings on Phase 1 and 10% ($9,273,520) discount on Phase 2.

Conclusion

We wish to state that this project has really gone through all the necessary statutory approvals and laid down procedures for procuring single source projects.

The final report of Crown Agents advising on value for Money made some recommendations, which have been fully implemented, and these formed part of the submissions to parliament in February 2014.

It must also be indicated that the project is not refurbishment but a fully functional ultra-modern new and purpose-built hospital to be built on an occupied site.

There is no evidence whatsoever to justify that the Contract price has been bloated and that it is the most expensive hospital in the world. Indeed the rates are comparable to similar sized hospitals with similar specifications internationally.

There is therefore no risk to the taxpayer. The realization of this project will therefore enhance secondary and tertiary level health care delivery in Ghana and also reduce huge sums of money spent on medical treatment abroad.

Ministry of Health
Ana Boko 11 years ago

NDC GVT is chopping ghana dry.If we ghanaian do not stop then who will? Boko haram?Ghanaians WAKE UP,WAKE UP from your sleep.

NDC GVT is chopping ghana dry.If we ghanaian do not stop then who will? Boko haram?Ghanaians WAKE UP,WAKE UP from your sleep.

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Mahama And Ridge Hospital Renovation "Armed Robbery"

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