The New Patriotic Party (NPP) launched its 2020 manifesto on August 22 at an event at the University of Cape Coast. The manifesto presents a breakdown of what the NPP considers their achievements in their three and a half years in government and what they intend doing if re-elected in the upcoming elections.
Under its health section, the manifesto indicates that the NPP government has built some three hospitals. Fact-check Ghana has verified this claim and presents a verdict and explanation below.
Claim: “Construction of a District Hospital at Obuasi, Anyinam Trauma Hospital and Rehabilitation of Enyiresi Government Hospital have been completed.”
Verdict: Completely false
Explanation: The construction of the District Hospital at Obuasi and Trauma Hospital in Anyinam was announced by the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in the 2020 Budget Statement and Economic Policy delivered by on Thursday, November 13, 2019 in Parliament.
“The Ministry will commence the following projects in 2020…the Construction of New District Hospitals in Obuasi and Trauma Hospital at Anyinam,” the Finance Minister said.
Subsequent to the announcement, a loan agreement for the construction of the Trauma Hospitals in Anyinam and Obuasi was approved by Parliament some two months ago on July 14, 2020. The agreement also included the building of an Accident and Emergency center at Enyiresi Hospital and the Rehabilitation of the Obuasi Health Center.
According to the parliamentary hansard of Tuesday, July 14, the loan of €56.15 million was agreed upon between the Government of Ghana through the Finance Ministry and the Deutsche Bank AG (as the arranger and original lender)and TMF Global Services (UK) Limited (as the facility arranger).
The hansard which captures the report of the Parliamentary Finance Committee meeting on the loan facility indicates that “the Committee was informed that the project is expected to be completed within three (3) years after commencement, all things being equal.” The Committee further indicated that there would also be an additional 365 days Defect Notification Period (DNP).
In the debate leading to the approval of the loan agreement in Parliament, the Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare, said the projects when completed would be of immense benefits to residents living in the catchment areas of Anyinam and Enyiresi.
“The people of Anyinam and Enyiresi and the other surrounding towns like Ankaasi, Mampong, Asaman, Moseaso, Adasoase, Ahankrasu, Sekyere, New Jejeti, Krobonu, Awosoase, Abekwase and Akutuose to Tiaya Subriso are very delighted and would forever be grateful to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the immense healthcare and other socio-economic,” she said.
Thus, even though funding for the hospital projects have been secured and work is expected to commence, it is inaccurate for the 2020 NPP manifesto to capture them as completed.
