UG Medical centre to operate next year after gov’t agrees to ownership formula

The impasse between the management of the University of Ghana and government over the ownership of the UG Medical Centre has been settled.

Per an agreement between the two parties, government will take 60 percent shares of the facility with the University reserving  40.

The disagreement over who takes control of the hospital led to a shut down of the facility for over one year.

Addressing the government assurances committee at the centre Friday, CEO for the facility Dr. Darius Osei disclosed the hospital will be fully operational in 2021.

“The ownership composition is the government is having 60% shares and the university is having 40% shares. There is supposed to be a board where the university will provide 5 members and the government will have six members. I’m sure there will be legislative instrument that will provide the composition of the membership here so than not anybody can be on the board”.

The $217 million University of Ghana medical centre which was constructed by the Mahama administration has not been operational. A tussle between the University Authorities and the Ministry of health over who has the right to manage the facility has protracted the opening of the facility.

The 650-bed facility is the first of its kind in West Africa and second to only few hospitals in South Africa. The then Government secured a loan facility from Harpo Alim Bank of Israel for the project.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com