Controversy has arisen between the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lower Manya constituency, Mr. Michael Tei Nyaunu, and the administration of Atua Government hospital as to how an amount of GH¢30,000 raised for the construction of a laundry for the hospital, was spent by the MP to only end at the foundation level, an investigation by the Times newspaper has revealed.
The district hospital, which was built in 1977 with a 124-bed capacity, has its staff washing bed sheets and fabrics used at the theatre and all departments with their bare hands, though the practice has serious health implications.
The authorities of the hospital has been concerned about the issue and appealed to the MP to help them to build a laundry and equip it which he accepted to do.
Sources at the hospital pleading anonymity revealed that an amount of GH¢30,000 was, therefore, raised by the MP in the name of the project but they became “shocked” when the MP told them the money had exhausted when the project was “nowhere near completion and had been abandoned for over a year now”.
When Times visited the site, it observed that the project was still at its foundation stage with no filling done and overgrown with weeds.
When the Administrator of the hospital, Mr. Daniel Kwame Yeboah, was contacted, he admitted the alleged amount of GH¢30,000 for the project confirming that “it has been stalled for over a year”.
He, however, stated that the hospital was still relying on the Member of Parliament to fulfill his promise to complete the laundry project.
He described the facility as “one that is needed urgently to reduce the workload on the staff,” disclosing that as an interim, a domestic washing machine has been purchased to address the situation”.
The current laundry has only a little space for washing, and does not befit a distract hospital, a visit to the place revealed.
When the Times contacted Mr. Nyaunu on phone from Abuja for his side of the story, he expressed disappointment at the development, describing it as unfortunate.
He said complaints on the laundry project had come to his notice and explained that the GH¢30,000 was raised by the National Health Insurance Authority.
The MP was emphatic that the whole amount had been spent on the project and dared the hospital administration and any member of the public, wishing to know the truth to contact the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL).
He disclosed that the money was spent on felling of trees at the site, as well as for excavation and paying for labour.
Mr. Nyaunu noted that the money was in cheque and all that he had to do was to authorize its disbursement from the District Health Directorate, a practice which he said made it impossible for embezzlement.
He, however, gave the assurance that he is expecting another cheque from the National Health Insurance Authority after which he would continue the project and called for patience from the hospitals, administrators and all concerned.
Source: The Ghanaian Times
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