Residents within La, a suburb of Accra, say they are at their wits end as they continuously appeal to the government to allocate funds for the speedy completion of the La General Hospital project to meet their health needs.
3news’ visit to the project site on April 16, revealed that very little progress of work has been recorded.
Promises made to complete the La General Hospital by government is beginning to sound like a cliché as residents have become frustrated by the slow pace of work on the project.
The reconstruction of the hospital has lingered since 2020 after the old facility was demolished, and it appears there is no hope in sight for its completion.
Construction work started in 2022 but due to funding challenges, the project is moving at a very slow pace making residents more anxious of their fate in seeking medical care within their vicinity. The last time the news team visited was on February 7.
Two months down the line and the progress of work is not impressive. Much work has been done on the ground floor and out-patient department (OPD) though.
The staff accommodation block is almost completed while work slowly progressing on the first floor of the project.
There was no official on site to speak to the current status of the project, but residents allege the contractor is yet to be paid after raising an interim payment certificate.
A resident, Fred laments how the project has delayed beyond his comprehension.
“It’s taken too long. I personally don’t go to the hospital anymore. I do self-medication but if this hospital is completed, I can easily walk in and get my vitals checked or something. They should complete it for us,’’ he lamented.
Aunty Vic is a hairdresser and a trader opposite the hospital project site. She seems to have more information about the delay. According to her, she understands there is no money so she will also plead with government to do something.
‘‘The way things are going, it’s too slow. We understand there’s no money, but he should try and get some money and complete it for us. We are tired” she said.
Another resident, Jeff was also worried about the delay.
He said ‘‘look, everyone is suffering. When people are sick, they struggle to get a health facility closer to home. My parents same. So, they should please do something about the hospital and complete it. Since 2019. Why?” he quizzed.
Meanwhile, all efforts to get the sector ministry to speak on the issue as well as other concerned stakeholders is yet to yield any result.
