Salaga North MP Demands Action on Abandoned Agenda 111 Hospital as Residents Travel Far for Healthcare

The Member of Parliament for Salaga North has added his voice to growing calls for the government to revive and complete the long-delayed Agenda 111 hospital project earmarked for Kpalbe, warning that the stalled construction is having a direct and painful impact on the health of ordinary constituents who have no district hospital to turn to.

Following a personal inspection tour of the project site, the MP expressed deep frustration at the state of the facility, which remains unfinished despite the nationwide fanfare that accompanied the launch of the Agenda 111 initiative. He stressed that the absence of a functioning district hospital means residents are routinely compelled to travel outside the district — often at great cost and inconvenience — whenever they require medical attention beyond basic primary care.

What is Agenda 111?

Agenda 111 was a flagship infrastructure programme launched under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with the ambitious goal of constructing 111 hospitals across underserved districts and regions of Ghana, including areas that had never had a government hospital. The initiative was designed to bring healthcare closer to the doorstep of Ghanaians in remote and deprived communities, reducing the chronic over-dependence on regional and teaching hospitals.

Construction on many of the sites began simultaneously with significant public investment, but progress has been uneven across the country. A number of projects have stalled due to reported funding gaps, contractor challenges, and procurement issues, leaving communities like Kpalbe in limbo. The change in government following the 2024 general election has also brought fresh scrutiny to the programme, with the new administration reviewing the status and financing of the various sites.

Why it matters for Ghana

The situation in Salaga North is far from unique. Across the country, dozens of Agenda 111 sites remain incomplete, and the communities they were meant to serve continue to bear the burden. In the Northern Region and other more remote parts of Ghana, the distance between a patient and the nearest adequate health facility can mean the difference between life and death — particularly for pregnant women, children, and the elderly.

When residents are forced to travel long distances for medical care, the costs are not only financial. Delays in reaching healthcare can lead to worsening conditions, complications during childbirth, and preventable deaths. The lack of local health infrastructure also discourages skilled health workers from taking up postings in such areas, creating a vicious cycle of deprivation.

• The MP's intervention highlights the urgent need for the current government to provide a clear and credible timeline for completing stalled Agenda 111 sites.
• Civil society organisations and health advocacy groups have repeatedly pointed out that Ghana's rural communities cannot afford further delays in healthcare infrastructure delivery.
• The Kpalbe hospital, once completed, would not only serve Salaga North but potentially ease pressure on facilities in neighbouring districts as well.

What happens next?

The MP is expected to engage the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities to press for a resumption of work on the Kpalbe site. With Ghana's 2025 budget placing emphasis on infrastructure completion over new project starts, there is cautious optimism that abandoned Agenda 111 hospitals could receive renewed attention and funding allocation.

For the people of Kpalbe and Salaga North, however, optimism must soon translate into concrete action. Every month that the hospital sits unfinished is another month that vulnerable residents face a perilous journey in search of the basic healthcare that all Ghanaians deserve.