Pelpuo Rejects Calls to Prioritise Agenda 111 Over 24-Hour Economy Markets

Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has rejected calls for the government to prioritise the completion of abandoned Agenda 111 hospital projects over the construction of 24-hour economy markets.

Dr Pelpuo described the criticism as unfair, arguing that the government must strike a balance between completing projects inherited from the previous administration and delivering on its own campaign promises.

Speaking to Citi News, the minister questioned why the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, which was in office for eight years, failed to complete several projects, including the Afari Military Hospital, yet the current government is being criticised for not completing all Agenda 111 projects within 15 months.

“They came for eight years. They didn’t finish it. Within 15 months, they are saying, ‘Why is government not finishing our hospital?’” he stated.

According to Dr Pelpuo, the government remains committed to completing viable projects inherited from previous administrations but cannot abandon its own development priorities in order to focus exclusively on unfinished projects.

He said the construction of 24-hour economy markets is part of the government’s commitments to Ghanaians and is intended to stimulate economic activity and create employment opportunities.

The minister also accused the opposition of placing undue emphasis on what he described as relatively minor issues while overlooking the broader development agenda of the government.

His comments come amid growing calls for the government to redirect resources towards completing abandoned healthcare infrastructure, particularly the Agenda 111 projects, before undertaking new initiatives.