Health Minister Kweku Agyeman-Manu says the previous NDC administration crippled the health sector with millions of cedis of debt before exiting power.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu, who was speaking to reporters after meeting striking workers of Pantang hospital, said his sector inherited more than Ghc 100m debt, and that has affected operations at the country's health sector.
Workers and senior staff of the hospital have been demonstrating since Monday over encroachment of lands by private developers belonging to the facility. They took reporters to the site on Monday and showed them large acres of lands taken over by developers who claim to have titles to the lands. An
An Accra court after five years of litigation threw out a case brought against the developers. But on Wednesday the nurses took to the streets demanding an immediate response to their concerns. But the health minister said they have demonstrated a true sense of patriotism and that will not be allowed to go in vain.
According to him, the hospital faces numerous challenges beyond the land issue, and measures are being put in place to resolve them. He said the level of debt left behind has negatively impacted health delivery, but that is being tackled. " we are meeting with the finance minister to ensure the arrears are cleared."
Mr. Agyeman-Manu also revealed 15,000 nurses who were left stranded at home have been posted to the various regions.