The Ministry of Health has defended the government’s decision to construct three new 160-bed regional referral hospitals in the Oti, Savannah and Western North regions, saying the projects are necessary to improve access to higher-level healthcare.
Tony Goodman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, said the projects do not mean government is abandoning unfinished district hospitals under the previous administration’s Agenda 111 programme.
His comments follow criticism from former Health Minister and Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, who questioned the decision to construct new regional hospitals while several Agenda 111 projects remain stalled.
Dr Okoe Boye argued that the estimated cost of the three regional projects could instead be used to complete a significant number of the unfinished district hospitals.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Goodman said the regions need regional hospitals to provide secondary and tertiary healthcare services closer to residents.
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“In NPP’s own manifesto and promise, they also promised to build regional hospitals for the people of Oti. They failed to do that, and then we have decided to do this for the people, knowing very well that this is what they need at this time,” he said.
He said the proposed Oti Regional Referral Hospital would reduce the distance residents have to travel to access specialised care.
According to him, the government’s assessment showed that adding a regional hospital was necessary to improve the quality and level of care available to residents.
“After the assessment, we realised that what would work properly, what would help them get that quality of care, is to add on a regional hospital so that you don’t travel from Oti to Accra,” he said.
Goodman also rejected suggestions that the new regional hospitals were being prioritised at the expense of basic healthcare infrastructure.
He said government was simultaneously working on peripheral health facilities, including health posts and accommodation for District Health Management teams.
“As I speak to you, there is a team currently in Oti planting this health post to augment what we already have,” he said.
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