Member of Parliament for Odododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has asserted that the demolition of the La General Hospital could have been done in phases.
Speaking on TV3’s show Ghana Tonight on Wednesday, November 8, Mr. Vanderpuye expressed his disappointment in the delay in rebuilding the facility.
“You could handle those parts that had suffered cracks first, whiles you maintain the other structures which were okay. So that partial services could be offered at the hospital. But the government as usual didn’t listen to anybody and went ahead and brought it to ground zero,” he stated.
The MP alleged that the reconstruction of the La General Hospital has stalled because residents in the area refused to vote for the current government in the 2020 general elections.
“Their whole pretense was to con the La Dade Kotopon Constituency people to vote for them because they are coming to give them hospital. Because the La people did not vote for them, that is the reason why they have refused, they have failed and they have intentionally reneged on their promise to rebuild the hospital,” he explained.
“It is not because any funding has been withheld. Because under normal circumstance, when there is a funding for a project, that money is fenced for that project. Unless they didn’t see it as a priority so they took that money and invested it in another project,” he added.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye cautioned Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta against coming to Parliament next week to present the 2024 budget if the La General Hospital project has not be prioritized in the budget.
“I have served a warning through the Speaker to the Minister of Finance, that on the day that he will come to Parliament to read the budget, God should save him if he has La General Hospital captured under the projects. Other than that, he will not have the opportunity to present his budget. Because I want to prove to them that they cannot sit on the land of the people of Ga- Adangbe and treat us with contempt.”
He also talked about possible picketing by members of Parliament in Greater Accra Region until the reconstruction of the hospital is started.
“We are going to picket at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health until they start the work at the La General Hospital. We are not joking with this and so if he had not already captured the La General Hospital in his budget, he better do a review before he comes to Parliament next week.”
He urged government to look for resources to reconstruct the hospital for the people in the area.
“What they did was irrational, was reckless and was irresponsible and they must be ready to answer for it. If they have earmarked any money for any other project somewhere, we don’t care, they should bring that money to do La General Hospital. That is the only thing that will relieve them next week when they come to the house.”
Esther Nyantakyiwaa Akaba
