Health Minister Defends Contractor Changes in Agenda 111 Project

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has addressed concerns surrounding the replacement of some local contractors in the government's flagship Agenda 111 project. The initiative aims to construct 111 hospitals across the country to improve healthcare infrastructure.

According to the Minister, some local contractors were replaced due to their lack of capacity to execute the projects within the stipulated timeframe. He emphasized that the government's primary concern is to ensure the successful completion of the projects, rather than prioritizing local contractors.

"We cannot compromise on quality and timelines," Agyeman-Manu stated. "If a local contractor lacks the capacity, we have to replace them to achieve our goals."

The Minister's explanation comes after some local contractors expressed dissatisfaction with being replaced by foreign companies. They argued that the government should have provided support and resources to enable them to complete the projects.

Agyeman-Manu acknowledged the importance of involving local contractors but stressed that the government's decision was necessary to meet the project's objectives. He assured that local contractors would still be involved in various aspects of the project, such as supplying materials and providing labor.

The Agenda 111 project has been touted as a game-changer for Ghana's healthcare sector, and the government is committed to seeing it through to completion. While some challenges have arisen, the Health Minister remains optimistic about the project's success and its potential to transform healthcare delivery in the country.