The Chief of Apemenyim, Nana Akyea-Kwaw II has threatened to initiate processes towards repossessing a 52-acre land that was released for the construction of a 250-bed capacity hospital under the Agenda 111 initiative.
The said project currently stands abandoned.
The 52-acre land was released by the Apemenyim Traditional Council in 2021 for the construction of a regional hospital for the Western Region under the erstwhile President Akufo-Addo’s Agenda 111 initiative.
The Apemenyim Hospital Project was the first to hit ground before the Bokoro Hospital, which was commissioned last year. These two projects are all sited in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region.
Works commenced shortly after a groundbreaking ceremony in 2021. Construction firm, Amandi Investment Limited was expected to complete the project in record time.
So far, the foundation is complete with the concrete floor slabs already cast. Strangely, in 2023 the company started demobilizing, an issue which sparked controversy in the community and the entire Western Region.
Today all that is left at the site are two tower cranes and temporary structures, supposedly used as offices and storage units. Nana Akyea-Kwaw II feels disappointed over this development.
“We witnessed the commencement works at the site. But it got to a point, we saw them demobilizing some of their equipment and we learnt they were owed by the government. We’ve been to the Regional Director’s office over this matter but there was nothing meaningful from their end.
“Nothing has changed since. Only the security officers are on site. The work has been abandoned. Nananom and the people of Apemenyim have resolved to engaged the new MCE and MP on this matter. Our hope is that work resumes soon. We will be compelled to repossess the land after six months, should nothing meaningful result from our engagements. We never sold the land to the state.
“There could be some other use for the land. Perhaps some company in need of land can have it so our youth can get decent jobs. So this new government, we pray, prioritizes the completion of this hospital project,” he narrated.
Meanwhile, the Ahanta West Member of Parliament, Mavis Kukuwa Bissue has assured to bring the matter to the attention of the Health Minister. She has however pleaded with the Apemenyin Chief to exercise some restraint.
“Funny enough, I am from Apemenyim, I am actually a royal. I understand his frustration because a land has been given out for so many years and nothing is being done.
“That hospital is going to serve the Ahanta West in general, and I am sure, from where it is positioned, people coming from Tarkwa and Axim are also going to patronize the service.
“So I will be speaking to the Chief and calm him down, and assure him that now that we [NDC] are in power, I am going to speak to the Health Minister to see what can be done about this project,” she noted.
It is the hope of the Western Region, that President John Dramani Mahama will honour his promise of completing all Agenda 111 projects. Already, the Minister for Health has disclosed that a total of $9 million is required to complete the Bokoro Hospital Project.
No estimates have been provided yet of how much funds are needed to complete the Apeminyim Regional Hospital Project.
By Abraham Mensah
The post Agenda 111: Apemenyim Chief threatens to take back land as 250-bed hospital project stalls first appeared on 3News.
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