Soldiers confront Minority MPs on Health Committee over 'unauthorized access' | The Pulse (10-6-26)

[00:00:02]Suman, you see the firefighters on the ground trying their possible best to douse the flame there. And uh that's certainly a developing story that we will be bringing you more in our subsequent bulletins. In the meantime though, there's chaos at the Afari military hospital in the Arama district of the Ashanti region as soldiers guarding the facility confronted minority members on parliament's health committee over unauthorized access into the facility. The MPPMPs led by its ranking member on health Nana Aufria visited the facility to assess the situation at the 500 capacity bed facility project. After a brief assessment of the abandoned project, they were confronted by soldiers to host their visit with the MPs are in the Ashanti region to demand the operationalization of the abandoned health facilities in the region following the industrial action by doctors at the Kungu Anoache teaching hospital. Here's what ensued at the facility.

[00:01:09]>> MC MCI Yes, >> the MC has come to threaten her. So who gave you authority? But >> at THE END OF THE DAY, I'M WORKING FOR YOU.

[00:01:18]>> You're not working for anybody. You're not working for anybody.

[00:01:26]>> Do they ask permission? We did seeing them.

[00:01:29]>> We are doing it for Ghana, not us.

[00:01:31]Officer, don't bring back. That is why we going back.

[00:01:47]When there's an emergency, do you ask permission? No.

[00:01:54]No. No.

[00:01:57]Don't do that.

[00:02:05]Don't Don't ask me that.

[00:02:14]We came here 2024. We came here.

[00:02:43]Honorable honorable honorable honorable it looks as if they wanted you guys to seek permission before he come but why didn't you seek it >> brother emergency situation emergency situation that people are being turned people are dying you you you want it to affect my family member or yours before you see the citizens action When you are not acting the cities act so they should act and bring confidence so we will not do these things. Nobody says these things are right but it is necessary to put pressure on government.

[00:03:13]It's a tool for demonstration. It's a tool to express your feeling because Ashanti matters. They are doing new stretches elsewhere and we are saying that as an MP we should treat every region equal. So just as other regions matter, Ashanti also matters.

[00:03:31]That's it.

[00:03:33]>> And so that's Are you a free Mama say just to stay in the Ashanti region and speak to my colleague Emmanuel Bradqu who has been on the beat all day.

[00:04:06]Emanuel, what is the very latest from that visit? Where else did the minority MPs go to?

[00:04:13]All right. So, Kenneth, um the tour just ended um an hour ago. Um we tored some facilities in the Shanti region right from the Afairi military hospital. um the minority members on the parliament's um select committee on health then moved to the UA um municipal hospital located in Tre and so they gained access into that facility unlike um Aferi where um there was a bit of confrontation even after they had um actually gone through or inspected the facility at the um Tre place they were able to gain access they went inside and then looked at the facilities that had been abandoned. In fact, we moved through the the the places in the accidents um and emergency center at the facility and we went there and then we saw some of the equipments around. We saw some chairs, some medical installations um in there and then we moved um to the head um the quarters or the the quarters for the doctor's um housing. Um also we went there and inspected the place where we saw um some pillow cases. We saw some um um number of fridges um and also cylinders that supposedly should be used by um these um doctors and nurses should they have um come there to work as um health professionals at this particular facility. And so when we went there these equipments or these um materials had gathered some dust um others also in c webs and all of that. And so that's what happened at the trailer and right after that we moved on to the Siwa hospital which is supposed to be the regional hospital for the Ashanti region and it was a similar um situation there in fact and for the place that place it was expected that um some equipments we are told that it's about some 90% complete and so some equipment should be added on to um finally operationalize this facility. So when we went there um just like the other places that we we had gone to um it was still also not in operation some parts were covered and in weeds and all of that. So that's the the the the latest that we have gathered so far in terms of this tour. In fact, the minority um caucus, the ranking member for the caucus, honorable um au every year said that they were going to take matters up to ensure that the NDC government um ensures the operationalization of these facilities um to augment the the the the or complement efforts at the confer hospital in terms of giving um health care, delivering quality healthcare um to the people of the Ashanti region and beyond. And so they are saying that they will make sure that the NDC government operationalizes this facility because they have started they started it and so they're hoping that the NDC would also take up and then if the they operationalize it it becomes a property of the state and not necessarily to say the NDC or NP in that regard.

[00:07:25]Kenneth.

[00:07:26]>> So you've been to Siua, you've been to Tre, you've been to Afairi. In fact, at Afair, we saw a heavy security presence there. What about the two other hospitals that you you went to? Was it guarded as well?

[00:07:39]>> Well, when we went there for the Tread, we saw a security unlike um the Afer where you'd find military men around and that place we did not find any military.

[00:07:49]It was just some security officers if you say normal um security officers both at the Tre and also at the Siwa um hospitals and so that's what we saw at that particular facilities.

[00:08:02]>> Uh so just for confirmation sake uh regardless of what happened at the Afairi military hospital the the minority MPs were not granted access to that facility. Correct.

[00:08:16]for the affair um hospital. They were they were done with inspecting everything when the Yes, exactly. when the um they were moving out and then we met one lady who is part of the security guard there who had told the minority um the ranking member that the DC then allegedly um had said he he was going to um lay the woman off her post. And so the woman was crying bitterly and then we captured that and that was when the military man came in and then asked the the the members whether they had the authorization to come into the facility and so they were done with everything.

[00:08:56]We had actually um granted interviews and all of that at the affair military hospital until we were moving out and then this couple happened. M. So with with those three hospitals that you visited, did you see any health personnel on board? Did you see anybody?

[00:09:14]>> No, not at all. Nobody was around. No health personnel in none of the hospital. It's just abandoned. Nothing happening there. A ferry like this. We we saw um a cement quite a number of cements that have been covered now by algae and also they were caking or they were left to um harden and also they were covered in in fact the whole facility was covered in weeds and so you cannot gain access to some places you have to be careful and all of that in terms of let's say a reptile attacking you. So that's the situation there.

[00:09:47]Unlike the other places well some of them had quite a number of the wheats around but their ferry was heavily um covered in leaks. Emmanuel Bradqu thank you very much is a man on the ground following the minority MPs who visited some abandoned health facilities in the Ashanti region and joining me this afternoon is a member of parliament's health committee an MP for Aim I bua south constituency Dr. Kinsley Ajiman also joining me is former presidential advisor on health Dr. Inia Assari gentlemen grateful for your time this afternoon Dr. I want to begin uh with you. What triggered that confrontation between the minority MPs, you in particular, and the military on the ground when you visited the uh ferry military hospital.

[00:10:37]>> Yeah, France, a very good afternoon to your tourist listeners. I mean there was not nothing nothing triggered that it was just a case that we had finished our inspection and the security guard came to tell us that the DC was said he was going to relieve her of her post because uh she had allowed that entry into the facility facility constructed with the taxpayer where the purpose representative had access and we inspected it. Today if anybody that is is unemployed in the health value chain or a health worker this is a saddest day and I believe your reporter will tell you everything is ready for personalization all the facilities that we visited everything is ready it's unfortunate that we saw a lot of reptile snakes and scorpions I think there a snake even came so close at biting one of the one of the journalist very unfortunate the national asset affair is about 200 2.2 billion Ghana cities 2.2 2 billion Ghana cities about 2 billion had already been invested in that facility. It's just left with 200 million for it to fully operationalize.

[00:11:50]You can't you can't allow national asset that we have we have used the sweat of the people to finance to go away.

[00:11:59]>> I mean nobody's saying that you can build a state-of-the-art facility that that will be 100% efficient and equipment every No, no, no, no, no, no.

[00:12:08]They've gotten to a place where a point where teachers have to put health workers there for work to begin because they are losing a lot. All the pressure on conf is because uh is not operational which is the regional hospital is not prisoner tread one of the gender one when when we got together they were so it it was so hard >> come and see a state-ofthe-art facility >> equipment in store uh health workers bangalow flat screens fridgees everything in there just put human beings there to work. We got to the original facility too and it was the same very very very unfortunate. So the question we should be asking is how come people are not being engaged? You are telling the good people of this country that you have built a resilient economy economy that will even can even withstand external shocks.

[00:13:10]>> Your your inflation figures are low >> right?

[00:13:12]>> Your interest rates are low. your exchange rate is fairly stable but it can't engage. why the disconnect between economic indicators and employment.

[00:13:24]But you see at the same time you are doing 261 uh what they call 24 24-hour economy market that is going to cause the people of this country the big push alone the road >> is going to cost the people of this country 70 billion >> right >> putting all the agenda 111 project together it's going to cost us just about 17 billion so Francis can you gauge the prioritization of of of how we put the taxpayer meanwhile when All these facilities that will ease the pressure on the confir is not being operationalized. That is they are not putting staff there to work. New facilities have begun in the president's hometown. There's a construction of a new hospital. A new hospital is also being constructed at the minister by my good friend Aand hometown. There's one going on in the water region. So what has the medal belt done to deserve this?

[00:14:18]>> Interesting.

[00:14:19]>> What has the middle Dr. And that's that's quite interesting because the Afair Hospital has quite a long history.

[00:14:26]This is an agreement that started way back in 2008 during former President Kufur's tenure. They broke ground in 2014 during President Muhammad's tenure.

[00:14:39]The facility was supposed to have been commissioned in 2018 during former President Akuad's tenure. One will then ask what took it uh what what took that government so long to be unable to facilitate and ensure that this facility becomes operational several years after we broke ground for it. There there's been a lot of uh things like like we rightly narrated a lot of issues have happened prominent among is the conflict that ensued between the contractor and successive government or previous government but they were all resolved.

[00:15:18]>> Everything was resolved. If they if they were resolved why were they not what is left what is left of the civil hospital or the regional hospital is power >> electricity >> road >> and uh uh I think water these are just the three things so if you can't you can't do this thing to make make it operationalized within one and a half years then I mean one one one one is short of saying that there's great inefficiency >> how long ago was it resolved the issue between the contractor and government >> during our last term. It was it was resolved during our last term.

[00:15:56]>> If it was resolved last time move to ST we added a lot of value to it. Come and see the gas plant.

[00:16:03]Modernized modernized gas plant come and see the equipment that we have put in there.

[00:16:08]>> We are going to commission this year if we are kept if we are kept in power.

[00:16:14]>> Dr. Ajiban 200 million Ghana cities.

[00:16:16]That's the estimate that you you you say we need to get the Afairy hospital into full operation. Some will say that's a huge sum of money. And if you say that that issue from the previous government was resolved, then 200 million Ghana cities does not seem like an issue that was resolved, does it?

[00:16:36]>> Oh, but do you know the total cost of the project?

[00:16:38]>> Yes. Million dollar from the total cost of the project.

[00:16:42]>> It runs into billions, you tell me.

[00:16:44]>> Yes, in billions. Yes, absolutely. Of course, it's expensive.

[00:16:47]>> I'm saying that an amount of about 200 2 billion has been invested in the facility already. It is 200 million >> to be invested.

[00:16:57]>> Okay.

[00:16:58]>> Okay. Somebody has invested 2 billion.

[00:17:00]We are left with 200 million.

[00:17:02]>> How much is it for the big push put all together? It's 70 billion.

[00:17:07]>> Do you think 70 billion? Do you think just like uh some people are suggesting that this is a deliberate attempt by this government to abandon that particular hospital and other hospitals within that enclave?

[00:17:21]in that is what they are saying and if you go to if you go and visited the facility it it bears ample testimony that what they are saying is true >> because what is the point in starting a new facility in Bali starting a new one in for the for the for the health minister and abandoning these one >> okay you see we have to understand that when it comes for instance if you go to Sta >> right >> he has he has a 50 bed isolation center >> right Now let's ask ourself what is our preparedness towards towards pandemics and other other either infectious diseases. If something like that crops for in for instance they are telling us they they are preparing for Ebola. If Ebola happens within the middle belt or the northern sector where will we send a patient?

[00:18:10]>> Where would we send where would we send a patient?

[00:18:12]>> Right? Because the or theanti regional hospital has a 50 bed isolation center >> 50 bed isolation center what is our preparedness towards infectious disease if you if we can't complete it in greater Ara we we we can we can both of the few hospitals that can support it both of the middle birth and the northern sector >> right Dr. Jim, don't go yet. Uh, I must put on record that we've been trying to get the NDC side to also uh comment on this particular subject. We've been trying uh to get members on the health committee from the NDC side and also we've reached out to the health ministry to comment on this but we have largely been unsuccessful as and when we're able to establish connection with them. We will speak to them as well. Let me also bring in Dr. Inia Asara. is a former uh presidential advisor on health. Dr. Sarah, grateful for your time this afternoon. What is the standard protocol when members of the health committee of parliament visit a health facility because we all witnessed the uh bruhaha between them and military officials on duty at the Afair Military Hospital.

[00:19:25]Kindly unmute so I can hear you Dr. Sari.

[00:19:31]>> Okay. Good afternoon to all your cherished viewers and listeners and um good afternoon to my nephew Kinsley. I think they are doing a very great job.

[00:19:42]What is the pro? You asking what is the procedure for a whole parliament select committee on health. The minority part of the select committee on health visiting any hair facility. They are the representatives of the people. The facilities as Kinsley rightly said is through the taxpayers money. Afery is a loan which President Kufur initiated and got it passed in parliament I think in November 2008 that you you rightly said and is the good people of this country who are paying for the loans and our representatives are going to visit this facility to see why what can be done so that quickly it can be operationalized for the good people of the middle belt not only in Ashanti region for middle belt so that Confoci will be relieved.

[00:20:38]And you are asking me what is the procedure? There are another arm of government. We have the executive, we have the legislature, we have the we have also the judiciary and we also say that the fourth estate of the governance is also the media. So they don't I don't believe that they need any express permission because when we were in power when I was the director general of Ghana health service and I also became the presidential advisor we only hear that oh the select committee both from both sides for minority and majority at confis they don't ask anybody for any permission so far as I know so I think they can move to inspect any place to make sure that they are also address whatever is happening in these areas so that the good people of this country will know that the people that we voted for the representatives in our various constituencies are doing their work I think they were they doing their work and they doing their work rightly so I don't see why the brhara brhaha which happened there I was a bit surprised if the place is and the soldiers believe the military believe that they are in charge of the place and they are watching the place I think they have some people who from once once in a while they can go there and clear the police.

[00:21:55]>> If the contractor is still on site and the contractor think that he's working, you won't go and find a wheat all around the place. Jokingly, I was saying it today in one of the platform that it's a green hospital. So that and green is for healing, but it's just a joke about that. I believe that um we should not do this thing again. I'm happy that they were able to do the proper inspection and when they were going if they were not allowed at all I have found very uh serious I find it very serious and I think it should not be the way out. So they have every right I think to go in my opinion to go and look at what people's money is being used for and then go to parliament and go and argue because when they say it I think the government will agree and listen to whatever is happening. M you worked closely with former president Kufu during your time as his advisor on health questions about why this facility has taken so long. It's taking more than three presidents uh and it's still not completed. I want to find out >> why did we miss the completion date on several occasions.

[00:23:09]>> Maybe I have to explain to you very well what the Euro Jet project is all about.

[00:23:13]Tell me >> the Euro the Eurojet project is a nine facility project across the country which was conceived in I think April 2008. At that time I was the director general. I was the chief executive of teaching hospital. So I was very much into it. I was part of the committee.

[00:23:34]There was supposed to be two regional hospitals. one in upper west which is a W regional hospital and then another one in Ashanti region which which is in sea which is Ashanti regional hospital. The one in W was supposed to be 160 beds with all the facilities. One the regional hospital in in Ashanti region was supposed to be 250 bed capacity.

[00:24:00]Then there were six district hospitals, one in Ta, one in fact one was supposed to be in Wii but after M P lost power it was moved took I don't have any problems of it there's one in Kono in Konoasi for the Asantia central municipality there is one in Chuasu forupra district there's one in quabya for ga east and then one in salaga and then the military hospital which was also supposed to be for the military in initially was supposed to be in kumasi opposite pre college the contract was given to euro eurojet in dexa originally they are from Egypt so they source for the funding the total funding I think if you add the military was about 559 9 million if I I mean I get it correctly. I think it's around that figure. It was about 380 for the two regional hospitals and the six district hospitals. The district hospitals apart from which was 100 100 bed hospital the rest were 60 bed hospitals each.

[00:25:17]So that is the euro jet project for one reason or the other the government changed it went through parliament. So I'm now today I'm saying it and I want to emphasize it that they should go to the hanzard. Anybody who is saying that this project was not the funding was not sourced by president should go to the hanzard and find out if there have been any other proposal or project proposal which has been sent to parliament for approval apart from the one that the cabinet of president kufur sent to Ghana government parliament and then it was passed I think in October or November 2008.

[00:25:54]So what is left is the processes to go on. Um the finance people will use their terms to apply credit and all these things and I when you know there was an Arab spring which delayed it a bit and in the form I think it was the first sword was cut in at regional hospital to start the project somewhere I think 2012 or so. So the others were all added on.

[00:26:20]The contractor employed the services of subcontractors.

[00:26:25]That is why the honorable member was talking about a lot of issues of this contract >> because the contractor had issues a lot of issues with the subcontractors. Some of them going for arbitration on international uh cause and the rest which were all resolved when we took over in 2017. If you remember the first one to be commissioned was one regional hospital I think in 2019 somewhere in August and that's where the president kufu said that this project the euro project has passed through four successive presidents president Kufur initiated it and brought in the funding late president mills he so rest in peace then started it and I think they it was the sword was cut during his term. H president mama in his first first term president mama also continued it and then he president kuado has come to continue it and today by the grace of god he is commissioning the first one. This shows the beauty of the contin the continuity of presidency or governance in Ghana. So it's an example for the world to see that government after government will do whatever project which is good for the people of this country because to me health is wealth. If you don't give good quality affordable, accessible health to the people then you are failing the people of this country.

[00:27:54]>> And then from there we commissioned which is a hospital which later on when COVID came put a center there to also do COVID. If it wasn't there, we were going to have a big a huge problem in Ghana uh during that time. And then we went ahead to commission h in hospital and then tea municipal hospital. I think was around 2020 or so just before the cover and then and then was in 2020 or 2021 and then finally we also commissioned Sea Ashanti Regional Hospital on the 4th of January 2025. So what was left? We wanted to commission Aferi but when we went there there was an issue because the day that we were expecting to see the ones that the president can commission before he hands over on the se on the midnight of the seven 6 of Janu January 2025 it was we were looking at Apiri and also at the region hospital. So when we went to Aferi, the soldiers were there with us and then the deputy minister for defense my own MP honorable um Kufia Mangu was also there with us. Then we decided that the main seway system has been constru the subcontractor was working on it and he may not finish it before the 4th of January when he wanted to commission it. So we say that okay let's leave that one but the soldiers should prepare the soldiers as I know already have a contingent they have even I think somebody who is going to command that place it's a big compound >> where they will bring they will put up houses their housing units there and everything there the emergency unit if you go there now has been completed it's equipped the I think maternity block has also been finished and complete there about 25 or so or is it 17 or 25 secret buildings. It's a whole compound plus accommodation unit.

[00:30:02]And so we said that we wanted to if they for nothing at all they should try and move in and start working in the areas which have been completed which I think you are reporter went there. He saw all the equipment there all the offices have been done. Everything has been done. The equipment is there. The contractor told us the rest of the equipment is are in containers in term. So bringing those containers to come and finish up the hospital will not take 48 hours if you agree with me. So sea we went there. Sea was put in the middle of nowhere because that's where the land was. They have enough land to put the hospital a beautiful hospital 250 bed hospital. So through the initiative and then the the uh what you because you wanted to start the hospital as quickly as possible to relieve confo we pulled the high tension to the hospital right from the if you know the place very well. So the high tension was done and then one of the state of the act new substations was built is directly in front of the hospital.

[00:31:09]>> Okay. The hospital has two blocks of accommodation which will take about 24 or 48 workers.

[00:31:15]>> The hospital has everything >> right.

[00:31:17]>> The the ECG have dropped the this the terminal to the high tension terminal to the hospital.

[00:31:24]>> Dr. Dr. those are very very revealing facts you giving me but respectfully I would like you to hold on. Let me bring in Dr. Mark Ketwani. He's the chairman of parliament's health committee. Dr. Nwani, welcome to the program. 18 years after funding was secured for the construction of the Afairi hospital, here we are today talking about when it will be eventually opened. You're being accused by the minority MPs in parliament that 17 months after you assumed office, you should have by now made it operational. Why has that not happened?

[00:32:05]Let me say good afternoon to the viewers of uh Joy TV and say that probably there's no need carrying over spilled milk and that they had opportunity to complete these two hospitals in the Ashanti region and to reduce the lack of bears that we complain today and probably reduce the no bear syndrome that is taking place today but they play it up.

[00:32:44]What my colleague doctor is saying is just a lot of processes that has taken place and they always try to justify that all the projects that was carried out and during the NC period is this and so he starts from 2008 2008 was the election year that they were talking about and the rest office came in 2009 and so NDC was able to carry out all these projects most of them were between 20 to 80% completed.

[00:33:28]When they came to power for the first 3 years, they said they were carrying out what we call forensic auditing of those projects and stopped all the contractors from working.

[00:33:45]This is where the mistake started and they tried to let them resume work when we're going through the 2020 elections just for them to gain the credit that they they were those who have completed the project and it backfired and they still continue the same methods.

[00:34:12]They allow the contractors to work but they wouldn't give them funding. They wouldn't solve the problems that they had and we are talking about eight years and they now come back freaking like saints and then within one and a half years the NBC government should have solved all these problems. I've seen my colleagues standing at atari hospital weeding.

[00:34:40]Yes, that is the law of karma. The weeds that you allowed to grow there for 8 years, you you come back and weed.

[00:34:50]We also went there when we're in opposition and the weed were just like that.

[00:35:01]Now this government has come.

[00:35:05]The first one year we had to work on the economy and we are still working on the economy. We have said that we are not going to borrow money to carry out projects in this country. All the projects that we are carrying out is money that is generated by our own revenue sources in the country. In other words, domestic funding.

[00:35:31]And we are the president has said that we are not going to behave like them where they had $40 million and yet failed to the Ashanti region people. So why and afar they just needed some refor sources to finish it.

[00:35:54]When the co money came and the first 100 million, they decided to give 101 contracts and I repeat 101 contracts instead of money that could have been used to build 20 to 30 and complete >> 111 sorry 111 contracts instead of using to complete 20 or 30 hospitals and increasing the capacity of hospitals in the country and we have professionals doctors who were advising the president and I'm surprised that these same doctors and advisers are back again playing the the the old song we we we connected with electricity we brought water we we we we did this let me tell you when you go to Afari as we went there most of the equipment and other things that were left there have been exposed to the weather and indeed they were most of them are not working. Yesterday during the program a good friend of mine said that one of the people on the pang said that you hand over a hospital you need to test all the equipment you need to do everything before you can operationalize the hospital >> let them go and test all those equipment and everything for one year and see whether they are working I'm saying all these things not to say that no the NDC government is going to abandon this thing but they should the last people to to be complaining and to be leading the fight. We politicians should allow other people, the press, we should allow um um other stakeholders probably to press on us to at any particular time take decisions that are in the interest of um the citizens. What they did in 8 years was not in the interest of the citizens. And I'm praying that what we are we are going to do immediately we stabilize the economy will not follow their path.

[00:38:04]>> We will not do what they are doing.

[00:38:06]>> Okay.

[00:38:06]>> 10 hospitals at a time. We are going to work on it and we are going to look for the resources inside.

[00:38:12]>> As you are aware the um donor funding has dwindled and reduced drastically. We don't depend on it again. We are not also going to borrow money and have a party.

[00:38:28]>> Does does that mean that what we are going to do is that we're going to generate the money in Ghana here and carry out the project.

[00:38:36]>> Do Dr. Nwani at the heart of this challenge is ordinary Ghanaians who are bearing the brand. We see what is happening at the exact teaching hospital which has exposed our already crippling health sector. uh you were saying that uh the MPP had 8 years and they were not able to complete it. To be fair also this uh construction also happened briefly under John Muhammad one at Mills and then now 17 months after you assumed office it has still not be commissioned because according to the minority MPs we need 200 million Ghana cities to make it operational. that is from the entire budget of over 2 billion Ghana cities that was used to construct this uh big hospital in the Ashanti region. Are you saying that there's no end in sight as to when this hospital is going to be completed because the MPP failed to complete it in their 8 years?

[00:39:37]>> Yeah, there are number of the hospitals that need resources to complete. Indeed, we have assigned some of them and we are looking for the money internally to complete the projects and that is exactly what we are going to follow. We are going to make sure that we look for the money internally and work on the projects. This is a commitment by President Muhammad and this year I believe that we are going to tackle not less than 10 of them. We are not going to spread the the the money like they did. They have left us um uncompeted projects probably more than 150 uncomputed projects or even more than that. When NDC was leaving power, the NOS's and then the low state actors documented about 50 uncompleted projects and they have left US ABOUT 150 uncompeted projects without completing tera Aar and other projects which they inherited as uncomputed projects from the NDC and now they want to take credit for for competing in so they want to take credit for competing solar when those projects were already practically completed under NDC Mahama.

[00:41:02]>> So when should we see the completion of uh the Afair Hospital, the SEUA hospital, the Trea Hospital and other hospitals of national interest? When are we likely to see its completion?

[00:41:16]>> The Ministry of Health is highly committed to the completion of all these hospitals.

[00:41:24]Indeed, we even have regions that do not have regional hospitals, let alone uh to have uh a teaching hospital and a regional hospital. All these things are under consideration and I'm saying that we need to generate the money internally.

[00:41:45]>> They should assist us generate this money internally.

[00:41:49]>> Dr. Nwani >> and and and we are not going to borrow >> Dr. No money.

[00:41:53]>> We are not going to borrow money to destroy the economy because the the the the country has to leave. The economy has to leave. Once we get >> an economy that is alive, then we can >> get money >> to complete the hospital.

[00:42:11]>> Dr. Dr. >> So we are not going to do anything that is going to dislocate.

[00:42:16]>> Okay. Dr. If I may at this point you say that there are some regions that do not have teaching hospitals talk of regional hospitals I don't understand that part are you saying that because the Ashanti region has a teaching hospital they don't need a regional hospital is that what you're implying >> what I'm saying is that there are even west regions in the country >> Mhm. That is what I'm saying. Yes. I'm saying that there are worse regions in the country because they don't apart from not having doctors and equipment they don't even they don't even have what we call a regional hospital.

[00:42:56]>> Yes.

[00:42:59]The concerns auditions are competing >> right >> competing >> the concerns are that for example confiring hospital is a major >> with whatever is in Ashanti region >> okay >> and I'm saying that >> all of these things are under consideration >> right okay the concern is that for example the confine teaching hospital is a major referral hospital in the middle and northern belt of this country and if the SEUA and their Tread hospital are also eventually commissioned they will also become major referral centers for the middle and northern belt. So you don't necessarily have to be living within the Ashanti region to be able to assess it. You can live in Bono Aafo you can live in the north and still have access to it.

[00:43:50]I agree perfectly. Okay.

[00:43:52]>> That if we able to get fa and afar to operate, it will ease the burden >> not only in Ashanti region but probably in the whole of Ghana.

[00:44:04]>> At that one I perfectly agree.

[00:44:05]>> Right.

[00:44:06]>> But we must also be thinking of geographical assets >> to healthare >> and when we have regions that do not even have hospitals that can operate uh and assist about 80% or 90% of the population in those regions those those regions must not ought to be left out that's I'm saying that all of these are under consideration >> and the the minister of health knows very well this situation our limitation our limitation is the fund and the method of funding yes and the method the problem we have is due to the new economic order that we are all we all want that is the health resilience of health security health sovereignty you look for the money internally and you use it to build hospitals in the country >> right Dr. Nani don't go yet Dr. Kinsley Ajaman is still on the line he's a member of the health committee in parliament Dr. You've been listening to your chairman on the uh health committee accusing you the MPP of having eight whooping years in government and still unable to complete these projects and now you are calling on the NDC to complete a project when they have barely spent a year and a half in government.

[00:45:38]>> I mean very good afternoon to my chairman. I mean I mean listening to him I don't know I lost touch at a moment because uh he's a very experienced medical practitioner private medical practitioner who knows how hospitals were personalized maybe on public he advance the >> man can you kindly speak up for me >> I'm saying that uh my he's my chairman chairman of my committee and uh very experienced in private practice and he understand the better been speaking in the public and making his party look right. He will say that he will say the things that he said it's in order because you see there are a lot of contradictions you and you ask the right questions Ashanti region does not need a regional hospital because the other region was regional regions that do not have a regional hospital but in terms of population as the next the next largest at Ara has a teaching hospital a teaching hospitals and regional hospital population growth I mean it's one of the key indicator determinance that support for location of certain facilities. Sh was talking about funding and said they will not borrow. Chairman, please uh maybe you may have to look at the finance statement. You are borrowing a lot. Your government said we're going to borrow about 11 billion uh uh dollars domestically to support the economy. Your government is borrowing from the from the from the domestic market, crowding out the private sector. You are mopping out a lot of money. So you are borrowing chairman respectfully. You are borrowing. I like the statement my chairman made with regards to the law of karma. And this this has you know after going through through all the sad moments that I saw going through the hospital in lighten my day up by quoting the law of kama that they were there when they wish were up and they in power. So if you've been there it means that they are coming to power very soon.

[00:47:39]Tell my very you be a ranking. You will not share again. Thank you. You put it very right.

[00:47:48]What what what was the weeding about though? I saw one of your colleagues attempting to weed the facility at that ferry.

[00:47:55]>> Yeah. I mean the whole place is inundated with a lot of weeds that work paths or walking ways were very difficult. So we have to take catales to clear paths so that we could move through the facility.

[00:48:07]>> M right.

[00:48:09]Don't go yet. Dr. Inia Assari is also on the line. He's a former presidential advisor on health for a former president Nana Akuad. Dr. Inasari, there's been some accusations also coming from uh the chairman of the health committee. In fact, you were the advisor on health to president Kufuad when he commissioned the agenda 111 hospitals uh in conjunction with other health facilities which were under construction at at that time. He he's been making the claim that because of the bombardment of several uncompleted health facilities which were started under President Akuaro, it's been very difficult to complete all of them at the same time. That is why these hospitals have not been attended to yet.

[00:48:59]Does that not make sound argument to you?

[00:49:02]>> No, it doesn't make any sound argument to me. You know, he said something that they are thinking they are not going to borrow to do any health facility. Maybe if my colleague and the chairman of the select committee should go and look at the handing over notes should go and find out if agenda 111 it is not 111 that we have started 111 you have started the district hospitals and the two psychiatric hospital including the one in his own constituency where the source of funding is coming from he's not borrowing he didn't borrow as he rightly said we use as an initial fund $100 million from the cover fund and then what you call the above budget formulary allocation ABF 20% of the capers that is the oil process I'm not saying this but Pak the public interest accountability committee which is an independent committee which monitors the oil process the oil revenue that you get because oil will not be forever in this country >> but what legacy are we going to leave or what heritage project that we do and they said that one of the most important things that this Dr. that government has done was the agenda 111. He also rightly accepted that you should have accessibility of hospitals and then make sure that hospital districts and the regions he's talking about some regions doesn't have teaching hospital maybe I have to remind him that any hospital all these agenda hospitals can teach the name teaching hospital is just in the name they can teach and then so we are using the oil revenue we didn't borrow for the districts and the two psychiatric hospitals The ones that we want to borrow we even year mark that's why it's 111 hospitals >> are for the new regions to get regional hospitals that's the one that was started because there was a loan already from Amandi for the takra one that they were doing so that if becomes a specialized or quinary or tertiary hospital so he should get his fast and secondly let me remind him that operationalization of a hospital doesn't mean that you will finish sometimes I'm sure he has a private hospital. I don't I believe that he's still doing some work there while the work is going on. So far as we are concerned the two hospitals in Ashanti region and the third one in Hunter West of which had been commissioned we can start working in today because the equipment are there. You should take a trip there as the minority went to have a look to go and have a look at Tre and have a look at Chrome and go to Hunter West and go and have a look and in his opinion as a doctor if the machines cannot have not been cannot be tested and then put human beings there.

[00:52:10]They should employ the minister said there are 100,000 health workers who are not employed. you should they should employ them and go and work in this hospital at least the ones that we finish and I'm very happy >> to be the presidential advisor on health >> together with the vice president and the president to agree that we should give fitting state-of-the-art befitting hospitals let's say hospitals to all the districts which doesn't who don't have hospitals in this country I'm very happy about that they should continue governor is continue >> and as inley said earlier if they don't have money. Why are they saying that they building a new hospital in Bali when Bali has a district hospital?

[00:52:51]There's a decent hospital in Bali which was built by a cho but we are looking at if they are going to re-equip and maybe expand the bi hospital I don't have any problems of it but all what people are saying we are talking about Ashanti region and I'm sure the people in Ashanti region are now listening to him and from his own statements he believes that there are other areas which should have hospitals why only Ashanti that's what he said you can't deny it so please we want to solve the problem I'm happy right >> that second spoken to the workers and they've gone to work. I'm happy that my colleagues have gone to work. You shouldn't say anything which will infer them.

[00:53:31]>> Right. Dr. Sar, we are wrapping up. We are wrapping up. So I want to give each each person 30 seconds for your final words. I'll begin with you respectfully.

[00:53:42]>> Yeah. All what I will say is that operationalizing shanti regional hospital this hospital municipal hospital to the municipal hospital doesn't take anything.

[00:54:02]>> Okay. the money that they are using for the big push, they should take a portion of it and finish at the hospital and then also make sure that the people who are at home, the health workers who are at home can be employed to go and start working in this hospital as quickly as possible so that they can bring relief to confi which is overused >> and overstretched right >> so that the good people of the middle belt can have quality accessible affordable health system in the country. Thank you. Because health is wealth, >> right? Dr. Anthony Sasari is a former presidential advisor on health. Dr. M Ket Nani is the chairman of parliament's health committee. Dr. Nwani, 30 seconds.

[00:54:48]I want to pick your final thoughts.

[00:54:53]>> My final thoughts is that the NDC is focused on completing all these projects including SEA and Afari and they shouldn't miscode me to say that I'm saying that other regions are more important than Ashanti. Um we are adding other regions but we're not removing Ashanti. Let it be clear to him. Yes.

[00:55:21]>> Right. And I hope that other stakeholders and other citizens will hold the NDC in trust and will complete the projects that have been left >> okay >> abandoned >> by the previous government.

[00:55:38]>> Dr. Marquette Nwani, thank you very much. He's the chairman of parliament's health committee. Dr. Kinsley Ajiman, same for you.

[00:55:46]>> Okay. So all that all that these hospital need is people to work in employ nurses and doctors to go and work. It's as simple as that. You have you have a facility with demand excessive supply yet you are you are constructing market 261 and you are saying that is not over ambitious that is fine no problem. Yeah.

[00:56:12]All that we are saying is that let the nurses do doctors who are unemployed there's work for them. Employ them to go and work.

[00:56:21]>> Right.

[00:56:21]>> The honorable minister for finance should go to the they should look at the ministry of health budget and you know release funds for them. I was expecting one colleague to you know impress on the ministry of finance to make funds available which which I know has been his dream and his advocacy. So honorable at forces all these facilities give clearance so that the good economy you say you have built should be able to employ nurses and doctors to go and work in these facilities simply >> right Dr. Kinsley Ajiman, thank you very much. He's a member of Parliament's health committee. You're still watching the polls here on Joy News and uh let's bring you more health stories this afternoon because activities at the outpatient department of the Kung Fu Teaching Hospital are fully resumed with patients being called in and assigned to their respective doctors while those with scheduled appointments being attended to. This relief returned to patients after the suspension of a 4-day strike by doctors over the suspension of the hospital's CEO. Hospital sources confirmed that doctors and other health workers have resumed fulltime duties leading to a significant number in service delivery. The OPD, which had witnessed reduced activity during the industrial action as patients sought care at peripheral health facilities, has today been crowded with patients receiving treatment and consultations.

[00:57:50]Clinton Yaboa has more, >> three of those hospitals.

[00:57:58]>> Since then, nothing has happened here.

[00:58:01]Joel Quuo is a unit committee chairman.

[00:58:05]Right.

[00:58:07]So, let's stay in the Ashanti region and Clinton Yaba has been at the hospital all day gauging the current situation and is joining me for more. Clinton, what did you find when you visited the OPD of the Kung Fu Anoi Teaching Hospital?

[00:58:24]Can I must say that the communication to the suspension of the strike um the industrial action has really trickle down to the hospital um doctors among doctors and patients because uh we didn't just find doctors who have returned back to to their post. We also find that the OPD itself was very much overcrowded as we speak. There are a lot of of patients at the OPD. They are even their waiting area is full as we speak and the numbers are still trooping in.

[00:58:58]The authorities at the OPD that we spoke to um explained that they are now dealing with numbers of new and old admittance. In fact, they explained that some of the patients who had come um during the strike period and were and were turned away, you know, upon hearing that the strike um had been suspended are now returning. M >> those are old patients and the new ones are also coming up and so the OPD is very much overcrowded that now cues are being formed emerging outside of of the facility.

[00:59:33]>> Uh OPD might be full to resumption. How about emergency services?

[00:59:40]Well, we do not have official communication as to whether um the hospital is now accepting um emergency services or emergency cases, but um what we saw and what we observed at the emergency units showed um that the place is barely um functioning. The the there there are less people there. We we could find only one or two doctors and patients walking around but we we do not know whether they are working or whether they are accepting you know patients but we know that the place has uh has been barely functioning >> uh the doctors were the first to call the strike and then they were followed by the nurses have they also resumed full-time >> in fact yes we can confirm that nurses have also resumed because at the OPD nurses are the point of call that before you get to a a doctor and so you find nurses taking the the vitals of patients even before they are um assigned to to consultation groups. So we can confirm the nurses are also at post.

[01:00:45]>> Clinton Yaba is a man on the ground at the comfort teaching hospital in Kumasa.

[01:00:50]Thank you Clinton. Now, a member of the foreign affairs committee in parliament, Patrick Ya, has cautioned against potential misrepresentation and propaganda by the government in the handling of xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa. He says the sensitive nature of the issue requires a measured and factual approach that reflects principles of diplomacy, adding that the foreign minister must urgently appear before parliament to address presenting concerns. Patrick Bama noted discrepancies in accounts by locals and South African officials expressing worry about the investment challenges any mishap could create.

[01:01:33]>> We know that there are over 25 to 30,000 Ghanaian nationals in South Africa. It will be very good for the foreign minister to come and brief the house because we don't want any propaganda.

[01:01:49]uh misrepresentation or any form of unconventional diplomatic uh means to be adopted. Ghana and South Africa have enjoyed enormous diplomatic relationship.

[01:02:07]Look at the investment South Africans have in Ghana. MTN Stambic Bank um a lot of investment that the mining um companies goldfields and other companies and what they they they've brought into this country in terms of jobs in terms of revenue. So our push is for the foreign minister to come and brief the house so that we can also as a house and as a parliament assist in ensuring that diplomatic relationship between South Africa is not ruined. So that any issue that the government or the foreign minister has with some of the issues that he thinks must be addressed, the house can also be apprised of it so that we all address it. If you listen to some of the press conferences by the South African foreign minister, he is not accepting what our foreign minister is putting out there. So it means there's some um issue that has to be addressed if the foreign minister appears and we ask him questions.

[01:03:24]>> The minority in parliament is also demanding the foreign affairs minister appears before the house.

[01:03:30]>> If you registered over,500 Ghanaians and you've been able to evacuate only 300, what is happening to the rest of our nationals?

[01:03:41]what is going to happen with those who did not register because we know that a lot of Ghanaians occupy top positions in South Africa in many institutions or companies the municipalities the defense sector and in other uh uh uh financial institutions there we don't want this situation to derail our relationship with South Africa so it's very important that the foreign minister appears before the house. I've been calling on him to appear before the house so that we can interrogate matters dispassionately.

[01:04:19]Diplomacy has nothing to do with propaganda and uh mischief. He may have a case, the South Africans may have a case with im immigration or migration issues. We may also have a point as a house to assist in addressing the matter. So I think our call must be heeded by the leadership of parliament by the speakerhip to invite the foreign minister. It's getting to over a month now. We haven't heard from the foreign minister on this particular issue. Very important issue and we think it's about time that we put it out there to put on some pressure or pile on some pressure to get him to appear before the house.

[01:05:10]>> That's M P MP Patrick Yaoama there. He's also been accusing the uh foreign affairs minister of making social media posts instead of coming to parliament >> in the country like he always rushes to the house to brief us on e visas and what have you. He should come to the floor. He should stop tweeting and um posting we are the people's representatives.

[01:05:39]The people in South Africa they have reps in the chamber. If the person is from Takra, honorable Dakumensa is the person's MP. If the person is from Abbeca, Bama is the person's MP. So we'll find a way to even reach out to our constituents out there to help solve some of the matters that we are being confronted with.

[01:06:08]Still to come on the polls, more than 400 final year students of Anglican Senior High School have reportedly opted to register for the 2026 Wasi through various private schools, raising concerns about growing attempts by candidates to evade stricter examination supervision. That's what's coming up after the break.