$217m UG Medical Centre wasting away over management tussle

The first phase of the University of  Ghana Medical Centre which was completed in 2016, is yet to be operational following disagreements over the legitimate manager of the facility.

Sources close to the project revealed to Citi News that the agreement signed between the Ministry of Health and the University of Ghana was to leave the ownership of the $217 million facility in the hands of the university.

In 2015, then-health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, signed an agreement with the University to validate its ownership of the Centre.

But the Ministry of Health in recent times, is laying claims to the facility, leading to uncertainties who has the responsibility to manage the centre.

Thus, staff recruitment has stalled, and ultramodern medical equipment is lying idle and collecting dust.

The interim CEO of the University of Ghana Medical Center, Professor Aaron Lawson, in July, was compelled to dismiss claims that work on the facility had been abandoned.

In an interview with Citi News, Professor Lawson stated that, the facility would be opened to the public in October, 2017, but that has not happened.

Phase One of the project was commissioned by then President John Mahama, who charged his successor Nana Akufo-Addo to work hard to ensure the facility is made fully operational.

Phase 2 of the project includes 350 beds, boasts of up to date medical gadgets for treating complicated medical conditions, and a helipad to airlift emergency cases as well as a medical hotel.

The project was expected to be fully operational once a $48 million parliamentary approval was given.

The hospital was given approval from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Commission to recruit staff and get the facility running.

The government is also yet to constitute a board for the hospital because of the seeming impasse.

If given clearance to recruit staff, of which 800 are needed, the hospital could begin operations.

The Ministry of Health is yet to comment on these developments.

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By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

 

The first phase of the University of  Ghana Medical Centre which was completed in 2016, is yet to be operational following disagreements over the legitimate manager of the facility. Sources close to the project revealed to Citi News that the agreement signed between the Ministry of Health and the University of Ghana was to leave the ... Read Full Story