Ghana's decentralization programme not very effective - Minister

Accra, April 8, GNA - Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashittey, on Thursday admitted that Ghana's decentralization programme ha= s not worked effectively. He said the programme would be restructured to move the country forward. The Minister, who was touring some medical facilities under his jurisdiction said though "we talk about decentralization in practice, it is not working".

The facilities toured were the Adabraka Polyclinic, the Ridge Hospital, the Osu Maternity Home and the Limp Fitting Centre of the Ghana=

Health Service. Ghana's decentralization program began in 1988 with the objective to=

promote effective and accountable local government, which would become autonomous in political administration, planning, development, budgeting and rating. Nii Ashittey noted that if decentralization was effective the region= al administration would be involved in the day to day running of the regiona= l programmes with one composite budget to meet the needs of all institution= s. At the Adabraka Polyclinic, the Senior Medical Officer in Charge, Dr=

Esi Turkson-Cofie identified some of challenges facing the clinic as lack= of ambulance and other vehicles, computerizing its records department, mendi= ng its leaking roofs and expanding its infrastructure.

She said despite the shortcomings, the clinic catered for about 180 patients daily providing services such as eye care, ante natal, post nata= l care, HIV and AIDS counselling services. She appealed to the minister to intervene to have the National Healt= h Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to pay an amount of GH¢69,000 owed the clinic t= o enable it handle some of the basic needs. At the Ridge Hospital, the Administrator, Mr Kwame Opoku said the hospital had serious problems of congestion, acute water shortage and non=

payment of NHIS bills.

The hospital, he said, needed about GH¢38,000 to replace the old p= ipes to allow free flow of water to the hospital from the Weija dam. Mr Opoku urged the minister to intervene and have the NHIS pay the GH¢900,000 owed to the hospital. At the Osu Maternity Home, Senior Nursing Officer in Charge, Ms Ella=

Hansen Owoo said the home had problems of water, furniture, midwives and an ambulance. She said in addition to the NHIS owed the home GH¢14,000. The minister pledged to donate poly-tanks from his own resources to help the home store water and he promised to help address some of the problems of the various institutions 8 April 10