Termination of Health Workers Delayed Agenda 111 Hospital Operations – Former Presidential Advisor on Health

Former Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, has reiterated that the Mahama administration’s decision to terminate the appointments of nurses and health workers disrupted the operationalisation of completed Agenda 111 hospitals.

Dr. Nsiah Asare explained that a directive from the Chief of Staff hindered the smooth start of these healthcare facilities.

In an interview with Citi News following former President Mahama’s claim that none of the Agenda 111 hospitals were operational, Dr. Nsiah Asare stated that the necessary health personnel were prepared to manage the facilities.

“We began employing 15,200 nurses, and financial clearance was granted in July. Public health service recruitment is a process, not a one-time event.

“If a letter is issued stating that anyone recruited, or whose name is not on the payroll, should be dismissed, it essentially revokes the appointments. Then who would run the hospitals?” he questioned.

Echoing similar concerns, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, former Deputy Minister of Health and MP for Akim-Oda, also attributed the delay in operationalising some completed hospitals to the sacking of health professionals recruited under the Akufo-Addo administration.

He noted that although three health facilities were fully completed and equipped, they remained non-functional due to a lack of medical staff.

After President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address, Acquah told Citi News, “These facilities are not operational because we need staff, and the same practitioners we recruited are those being dismissed.

“If appointments are terminated, the Ghana Health Service cannot post personnel to these hospitals. Otherwise, three facilities—Trede in Atwima Kwanwoma, Kokoben in Oforikrom, and Bokro in Ahanta West—are fully completed, equipped, and ready to operate.”