Parliament approves loan for health sector

Page 55, Nov 13, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved a $339 million loan agreement between the government and the Euroget De-invest S.A. of Egypt for the construction and equipping of two regional and six district hospitals.
The regional hospitals are to be sited in Wa in the Upper West Region and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, while the district hospitals will be in the Tepa, Wenchi, Salaga, Twifo Praso, Adenta/Madina and Konongo/Odumase districts.
The construction of the hospitals is to provide access to quality health care for the people of the proposed sites, supply and install equipment for quality health upon completion and provide training for medical staff and technicians to assist operate the facilities efficiently.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, moved for the approval of the facility, while the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Nii Daku Adu Mante, seconded it.
Presenting the report of the committee on the loan, Nii Mante said the country recognised the need to improve health status indicators, including maternal, public health and reproductive health services.
He noted that non-communicable diseases and road accidents were becoming major causes of morbidity in the country.
Nii Mante said despite those challenges, the health sector had made progress in meeting people’s expectations and promoting effective clinical service delivery, explaining that with the operation of the National Health Insurance Scheme, people now had easy access to health care.
The major components of the projects will include administration buildings, adjunct clinical services, out-patient departments, theatres, standard wards, maternity/pediatrics, kitchens, mortuaries, mother hostels, among others.
The House also approved a $120 million loan agreement between the government and the Bank of Hapoalim of Israel for the implementation of the Kwahu, Konongo and Kumawu water supply projects and a $49 million loan from the Project Development International/Exim Bank of the United States of America for the procurement of additional fire tenders for the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
Meanwhile, Dr Akoto Osei yesterday laid before Parliament the expenditure in advance of appropriation for January to March 2009 and estimates of revenue and expenditure of government for the 2009 fiscal year.
The First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay, referred the two papers to the Finance Committee of Parliament for consideration and report to the House for approval or otherwise.