Agenda 111’s $7.5 billion cost is bigger than the IMF bailout – Bright Simons
Bright Simons has slammed the government’s Agenda 111 project, describing it as an expensive and poorly executed initiative that could burden future administrations with billions in liabilities in a post shared on social media. According to the Vice President of IMANI Africa, none of the hospitals promised under the ambitious project have been fully completed […] The post Agenda 111’s $7.5 billion cost is bigger than the IMF bailout – Bright Simons appeared first on MyNewsGh.
Bright Simons has slammed the government’s Agenda 111 project, describing it as an expensive and poorly executed initiative that could burden future administrations with billions in liabilities in a post shared on social media.
According to the Vice President of IMANI Africa, none of the hospitals promised under the ambitious project have been fully completed or certified to meet clinical standards.
He asserts that the financial implications of the project have been underestimated, with an estimated $1.45 billion in pending liabilities for the next government to address.
“None of the hospitals have been fully completed and certified as built to the requisite clinical standards. It is up to the next government to foot the bill,” Simons wrote.
The Agenda 111 project, initiated by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, aimed to improve healthcare infrastructure across the country, a promise amplified during the pandemic. However, Simons claims the project’s timelines were unrealistic and politically motivated.
“Promises to complete by September this year were, of course, completely arbitrary and driven by nothing more than the electoral campaign calendar,” he said.
Simons raised concerns over ballooning costs, alleging that the Ministry of Health recently revised the required budget to a staggering $7.5 billion—an amount that dwarfs Ghana’s $3 billion IMF bailout package, which was secured after the controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
“What is frightening is that the Ministry of Health has suddenly taken a look and now claims that about $7.5 billion is required.
“You heard that right. 250% more than the entire IMF package,” Simons stated.
Even with earlier projections of $2 billion, Simons highlighted the severe implications of such costs, comparing them to Ghana’s energy sector arrears that previously led to widespread power outages, known locally as “dumsor.”
The post Agenda 111’s $7.5 billion cost is bigger than the IMF bailout – Bright Simons appeared first on MyNewsGh.
