The Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North in the Ashanti Region, Hon. Frank Yeboah, has criticized the 2025 Budget Statement presented by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, describing the allocation made for the completion of the Agenda 111 hospital project as both unrealistic and misleading. Contributing to the debate on the floor of Parliament, he expressed deep concern that the government’s financial commitment falls far below what is required to complete one of Ghana’s most ambitious health infrastructure initiatives.
Hon. Frank Yeboah explained that the Agenda 111 project was designed to transform healthcare access across the country by providing new district hospitals, regional facilities and specialized centres. However, he noted that the budget allocation of GHC100 million to continue work on 10 hospitals is insufficient and does not correspond with the actual cost of constructing the facilities. According to public estimates, each Agenda 111 hospital costs about US$17 million, which translates to roughly GHC170 million. The total estimated cost of all the hospitals stands at approximately GHC19.26 billion.
He argued that the allocation made by the NDC government exposes a worrying lack of commitment to the project. In his analysis, the amount provided is not enough to complete even a single hospital, yet the budget claims it would support work on 10 hospitals. Hon. Yeboah described this as a clear example of misleading budgeting that does not reflect the realities of the project on the ground. He further pointed out that if the current allocation is maintained, it would take Ghana 193 years to complete the Agenda 111 hospitals, projecting full completion into the year 2219.
The MP expressed alarm that the initiative, which holds immense potential to improve healthcare delivery, is now at the risk of becoming a perpetual construction site. He remarked that communities across the country are in urgent need of quality health facilities and cannot afford to wait for centuries for the completion of a project that promises to save lives and address longstanding healthcare disparities.
Hon. Yeboah urged the government to revisit the budget and make realistic provisions that align with the scale and importance of the Agenda 111 project. He emphasized that the health and wellbeing of the population should not be subjected to inadequate funding or political rhetoric. He added that rural and underserved communities in particular stand to suffer the most if the project is not executed with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
His remarks have sparked broader national discussion about the future of Agenda 111, with many stakeholders calling for transparency, proper financing and continuity of work to ensure that the vision behind the project is not lost. Health professionals, community leaders and development experts have echoed the MP’s concerns, insisting that the government must prioritize long-term health infrastructure over short-term political considerations.
The debate around the budget and the Agenda 111 project continues to intensify as Parliament moves closer to approving the financial statement for the coming year. Meanwhile, Hon. Yeboah remains resolute in his position that the government must demonstrate renewed commitment if the project is to be completed within a reasonable timeframe and deliver the healthcare transformation it was originally designed to achieve.
