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 intended to improve access to specialised and higher-level healthcare.
The planned hospitals are expected to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure and provide secondary and tertiary medical services closer to residents in the three regions.
According to Tony Goodman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the construction of the new regional hospitals does not mean the government has abandoned unfinished facilities under the previous administration’s Agenda 111 hospital programme.
His comments followed concerns raised by former Health Minister and Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, over the decision to build new regional hospitals while several Agenda 111 projects remain incomplete.
Dr Okoe Boye argued that resources earmarked for the three regional hospital projects could instead be used to complete some of the stalled district hospitals.
Oti Regional Hospital to Improve Access to Specialist Care
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Goodman said the three regions require dedicated regional hospitals to provide higher levels of healthcare and reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for specialised medical treatment.
He said the proposed Oti Regional Referral Hospital, in particular, would help bring specialist healthcare services closer to residents.
Goodman explained that an assessment of healthcare needs in the region informed the decision to establish a regional hospital rather than relying solely on existing lower-level health facilities.
According to him, the facility would help reduce the need for patients from Oti to travel to Accra to access specialised healthcare.
Health Ministry Says Agenda 111 Projects Remain on Track
The Health Ministry has also rejected suggestions that the new regional hospital projects are being prioritised at the expense of basic healthcare infrastructure.
Goodman said the government is pursuing improvements across different levels of Ghana’s healthcare system, including health posts, district-level facilities and accommodation for District Health Management teams.
He indicated that work was already underway in Oti to establish additional health posts to complement existing healthcare services.
The Ministry has separately announced plans to complete about 35 stalled Agenda 111 hospitals over the next two years, while exploring partnerships with organisations such as the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), non-governmental organisations and multinational companies to support some projects.
Expanding Healthcare Infrastructure in Ghana
The planned 160-bed hospitals form part of broader efforts to expand health infrastructure in Ghana and improve access to referral and specialist medical services.
The government has said the Oti, Savannah and Western North facilities will address gaps in regional-level healthcare provision, particularly for residents who currently travel outside their regions for advanced treatment.
The development is expected to remain a major focus of Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure agenda as authorities balance the construction of new regional hospitals with efforts to complete stalled Agenda 111 health projects.
Source: newsthemegh.com