La General Hospital project expected to be completed by end of 2027 – Health Minister

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has announced that the €50 million La General Hospital project, which includes hospital equipment, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. During a site visit on Thursday, the minister inspected the construction progress and identified potential challenges that could impact the completion date. Akandoh emphasized that the government had processed the latest interim payment certificate, dismissing delayed payments as a reason for work slowdowns.

The project, which covers both construction and hospital equipment, has seen €15 million paid so far. The minister highlighted the need to prioritize the hospital's emergency unit to address the issue of patients being turned away due to insufficient emergency beds, citing Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as an example with its 1,000 bed capacity and only 65 emergency beds.

He suggested that emergency beds should represent at least 10 percent of a hospital's total bed capacity, and that the country's growing population necessitates adequate planning for emergency cases.

Akandoh stressed that the health sector must learn from past experiences and correct shortcomings to improve emergency care provision in both new and existing facilities.