` Ministry to check poor execution of contracts

Yendi (Northern Region), Feb '99 -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) is to form a technical team to check delays and the poor execution of health projects. The team, which would comprise medical personnel, engineers and architects, would assist project consultants in the designing and implementation of contracts and sanction incompetent contractors. Mr Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, Minister of Health, announced this when he inspected work on two district hospitals at Yendi and Walewale as part of a two-day working visit to the Northern Region. The Yendi project, involving the rehabilitation and expansion of facilities, is sponsored by the African Development Bank (ADB) and is due for completion by June this year after over a year's delay. The World Bank sponsored project at Walewale in the West Mamprusi District is at a standstill due to structural defects. The defects include siting of toilet facilities very close to the operation theatres, narrow corridors and doors and leaking roofs. Mr Nuamah-Donkor said the technical team would be tasked to organise site meetings with project consultants to rectify the defects. At Yendi Mr Nuamah-Donkor assured ERGS consortium, the project consultant and Fredinaro Construction Company, the main contractors, that the ministry would expedite action to provide funds and materials for the completion of civil works. The project involves installation of electrical and hospital equipment and the provision of new theatres, wards, laundry, X-ray facilities and a mortuary. During a courtesy call on Ya-Na Yakubu Andani the second, Mr Nuamah-Donkor said the Yendi hospital is among the health facilities that will support the proposed Tamale Teaching Hospital. It is also to be used by the School of Health and Medical Sciences of the University for Development Studies. The Ya-Na appealed to the minister for vehicles to enable the hospital to cater for its catchment area which includes, Yendi, Saboba- Chereponi, Nanumba and Zabzugu-Tatale districts. Dr Sylvester Anemana, Regional Director of Health Services, expressed the need for the regional health directorate to get involved in the planning and implementation of health projects to ensure their maintenance.