Cabinet is later today [Thursday], expected to meet over the tussle between authorities of the University of Ghana and the Ministry of Health on the management of the 650-bed-capacity ultra-modern University of Ghana Medical Centre.<\/p>\n
The 217 million dollar facility has not been put to use since the commissioning of its first phase about a year ago. Authorities of the University have disagreed with the Health Ministry on the appropriate management to be adopted.<\/p>\n
According to sources, Cabinet\u2019s expected discussion has been necessitated by Citi FM<\/strong>\u2019s sustained campaign for the operationalization of the facility, and other abandoned health amenities across the country.<\/p>\n Background<\/strong><\/p>\n The Medical Centre, which has its first phase completed and ready to commence operations, was inaugurated\u00a0by former President John Mahama in 2016.<\/p>\n Whereas the University believes processes leading to the construction of the facility gives it a direct oversight role of the Medical Centre, the current Ministry of Health under the Akufo-Addo government thinks otherwise.<\/p>\n A Deputy Minister of Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, had earlier said government currently needs about\u00a0$6 million<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to make the facility operational, and an additional $50 million to complete the phase two of the project.<\/p>\n Fight for UG Medical centre<\/strong><\/p>\n The immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, has also charged the current university administration to fight to ensure that they have overall control of the Medical Centre.<\/p>\n \u201cThe University needs to stand up and fight for what is rightfully its property,\u201d he noted in a Citi News<\/strong> interview.<\/p>\n 1,400 staff were shortlisted for UG Medical Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n A former Deputy Health Minister, Rojo Mettle Nunoo, has said about 1,400 personnel<\/strong><\/a><\/span> had already been shortlisted and ready to be recruited as staff of the Medical Centre before the John Mahama administration was kicked out of office.<\/p>\n According to him, a total of 28,000 applied to work for the Centre, out of which 1,400 were selected.<\/p>\n Mr. Nunoo said the previous government had an adequate plan in place on the way forward for the Centre, adding that all was set for the facility to be operational before the NDC left office.<\/p>\n