President John Dramani Mahama has announced that his administration will prioritize the completion of 35 hospitals under the troubled Agenda 111 programme, signaling the beginning of a phased strategy to revive stalled health infrastructure projects across the country.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Northern Regional House of Chiefs on Friday, President Mahama criticized the previous government’s decision to embark on the simultaneous construction of 111 hospitals without proper sequencing, describing the approach as a key factor behind widespread delays and abandoned project sites.

According to the President, several contractors allegedly deserted project sites after receiving mobilization funds, leaving many facilities at various stages of completion. He disclosed that government has initiated measures to recover funds from defaulting contractors as part of efforts to ensure accountability and protect public resources.

“Government this year is going to put money in and continue them and complete them, and then adequate provision will be made in the next budget to clear another batch,” President Mahama stated.

In what marks a significant policy shift, the President revealed that faith-based organizations and private healthcare operators will be invited to adopt some of the hospitals to support their completion and long-term management, with the broader aim of expanding access to quality healthcare nationwide.

President Mahama stressed that the revised implementation strategy reflects his administration’s commitment to value for money in public infrastructure delivery and the need to prevent uncompleted state projects from becoming a burden on the national purse.