The lack of available land is hampering the commencement of the Agenda 111 Project in Nungua, located in the Krowor Municipality of the Greater Accra Region. The Agenda 111 initiative aims to establish 101 District Hospitals, seven Regional Hospitals, and three Psychiatric Hospitals to enhance healthcare in districts and rural areas.
Dr. Nsiah Asare, Presidential Advisor in Charge of the Agenda 111 Project, stated that the government has made significant efforts to initiate the project in the Krowor Municipality. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful due to the local leaders’ inability to provide the necessary land. “We have engaged the community leaders for a possible piece of land for the commencement of the project, but that was not forthcoming,” he explained.
While the Agenda 111 projects are progressing at various stages of completion in other districts and regions, some districts in the Greater Accra Region, including the Krowor Municipal Assembly, face challenges in providing land for the project. This assembly is expected to benefit from the initiative, but the local traditional leadership’s failure to secure suitable land remains a concern.
Nii Afotey Botwe II, a Divisional Chief of Nungua Otinor, confirmed that traditional leaders have been unable to provide land for the project. He expressed disappointment over this issue, noting that all available parcels of land in Nungua have been sold to private individuals and organizations, leaving no space for developmental projects like Agenda 111. “It is so sad that Nungua has not been able to provide land for the project; our people have sold all the lands, not leaving any for future use,” he lamented.
The Divisional Chief feared that the municipality might miss out on the benefits of the project due to poor land management. He recalled that Nungua once had ample land, but over the past 40 years, it has been mismanaged and sold off. He highlighted the Lekma Polyclinic in Nungua, which is not spacious enough to serve the entire community and its surroundings.
Nii Botwe II suggested that while authorities struggle to find suitable space for the project, some government-acquired lands should be repurposed. He pointed out that some lands, initially acquired by the government for residential purposes and given to State Housing, are now being encroached upon for development without authorization. “Despite the fact that we have sold the lands, there are some lands that were taken by the government, and I think it is necessary to use such spaces once the project is still being executed by the government,” he said, emphasizing the need to utilize these spaces for the benefit of the community.
