Okoe-Boye blames DDEP for delay in La General Hospital reconstruction

The Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, has attributed the delay in the reconstruction of the La General Hospital to the impact of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

The government has faced criticism for its failure to rebuild the hospital, which was demolished in 2020.

Speaking to journalists in Accra, Dr Okoe-Boye explained that the DDEP disrupted the government’s plans for the project.

“Because of the debt exchange programme, many finance houses, when we got into the global financial crisis, pulled away from the arrangements and that is why La General stalled.

“President Akufo-Addo called the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and said if the debt exchange will slow it, we will have to find money to pay from GoG and I am happy to announce that La General now is being built from the coffers of the government of Ghana with our taxpayers money at a cost of €50 million.”

Residents of La and its environs have protested on multiple occasions against the delay of construction works after the hospital was demolished for safety concerns.