Group against MOH’s attempt to demolish Regional Hospital
The people of Bolgatanga, Nabdam, Bongo and Tongo (BONABOTO), in the Upper East Region, have cautioned against plans by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to demolish the existing Regional Hospital and build an Ultra Modern Regional Referral Hospital.
BONABOTO, issued the warning at a Press Conference held in Bolgatanga, on Wednesday, and explained that under a national policy, MOH is expected to provide every region with an Ultra Modern Regional Referral Hospital.
Mr Didacus Afegra, Upper East Regional Chairman of BONABOTO, who read the statement at the Press Conference, said the Volta, Central and Brong Ahafo Regions and currently Wa, in the Upper West Region, were all benefiting from the national policy, in addition to the already existing health facility.
He wondered why that of the Upper East would be demolished to pave way for the building of the referral Hospital.
“What is more disturbing is that plans are far advanced to demolish the solid existing structure at a huge cost to make way for the proposed new Ultra Modern Regional Referral Hospital. It is plain common sense that this is not cost effective and also tantamount to grossly denying the Region of having a new regional referral hospital in addition to the Region’s already existing facilities”, Mr Afegra stressed.
He said it was untrue, as claimed by the MOH, that there was no piece of land for the building of the facility and that the only way was to demolish the existing infrastructure.
“When BONABOTO became privy to this excuse some where last year, we immediately swung into action and secured four parcels of land of over fifty acres each at Bolga-Sherigu and Winkongo and appropriately informed the Regional Health Directorate, which has since inspected these lands”.
He explained that “More importantly, as a show of commitment, the chiefs and stakeholders of these areas, who made the lands available have further made commitments in writing to the MOH in Accra and copied relevant authorities and stakeholders in this regards”.
Mr Afegra cautioned that “BONABOTO would like to emphatically state in no uncertain terms, that it will resist with all legitimate means, any attempt to go ahead with the planned demolition”.
The Regional Public Relations Officer of BONABOTO, Mr Stanley Abopaam called on all stakeholders, especially government and Non-Governmental Organizations, to link up with the relevant authorities when in need of land for development.
According to him, BONABOTO had begun sensitizing landowners and communities in the Region not to hesitate to release land for development, stressing that the area needed development, and urged landowners not to refuse giving out land for projects.
Source: GNA