Political and traditional authorities in the Shama District of the Western Region say they have had enough of government over a polyclinic project which has been abandoned for decade.
They are however asking the government to as a matter of urgency complete the project meant to serve some 68,000 people.
A visit to the facility at Shama by Citi News was welcomed by large wall inscriptions such as “Oh God Help Shama Hospital,” “No pictures without authority” and “for information about this facility contact” some given numbers among others.
[contextly_sidebar id=”zkcYWMDbQNMyFKT3V3y5RsDRB9dliga5″]The facility which is about 85 percent completed was started in 2004 by the erstwhile Kufour administration but has been abandoned by the contractor.
According to the DCE for Shama Enock Kojo Appiah, all attempt to get the contractor back on site has proved futile.
“In 2004, a contract was awarded. Ten years now since I became the DCE, myself and my MP have moved to all corners from the ministry of health that gave the contract out, to the contractors who have come to work on this project and many more but is not yielding any result. And if this facility is to serve over 68, 000 people, only God knows the kind of pressure on the old facility. For ten years, enough is enough,” he fumed.
The Member of Parliament for the Shama Constituency, Kojo Esilfie in an interview with Citi News said he is fed up with frustrations associated with the project and will use his last power as a parliamentarian to summon the minister of health on the floor of Parliament.
“I have table the question on the floor of Parliament to bring the minister [of health] to the floor and come to explain to whole members of parliament, the whole people of Shama and Ghana, why a hospital project started 10 years ago is still ongoing or have been abandoned. And I am doing it because I have tried dialoging and it’s not working so the last power that I have is to bring the minister to parliament to explain and it is going to happen,” Kojo Esilfie charged.
At a recent visit by the first lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama to Shama on an HIV Prevention of Mother To Child Campaign, queen mother of Shama pleaded with her to use her power to get the facility completed.
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana