Presisent Mahama bemoans 12-year delay in UHAS laboratory project, cites cost overruns
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) multipurpose laboratory complex, describing the 12-year timeline as unacceptable and a major contributor to escalating project costs.
The President made the remarks after inspecting the laboratory project at the UHAS Sokode Campus during his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region.
Speaking to university authorities, President Mahama noted that the project, which commenced in 2014, should have been completed within a much shorter period.
“I don’t think you know where to start. A project that started in 2014, and we’re in 2026. That’s 12 years. It is already over the duration it should have been delivered, and it will certainly be over budget,” he said.
He lamented that delays in executing public infrastructure projects place unnecessary financial burdens on the state, explaining that the cost of the laboratory complex had likely increased several-fold because of the prolonged construction period.
“If we had finished this on time, we would have spent much less money completing it. Now, I’m sure the cost will be about four or five times what we originally budgeted to use,” President Mahama stated.
Despite the setbacks, the President welcomed the progress made on the facility, saying the completed laboratory complex would significantly enhance teaching, research and innovation at UHAS.
He reiterated his vision of transforming the university into a centre of excellence for health sciences in the sub-region.
“We want UHAS to be a centre of excellence in the sub-region, a university that is strong on innovation and strong on research. Laboratories are exactly what universities need,” he said.
President Mahama also praised the inclusion of a specialised pathogen research and vaccine development laboratory within the complex, describing it as a strategic national asset.
He encouraged UHAS to collaborate closely with the National Vaccine Institute to strengthen Ghana’s capacity in infectious disease research, vaccine development and public health preparedness.
Recalling an earlier attempt by his previous administration to conduct vaccine trials in the Volta Region, President Mahama noted that public resistance at the time had prevented the exercise from taking place.
He observed that similar research efforts elsewhere later contributed to the development of the Ebola vaccine, underscoring the importance of scientific research in protecting lives.
The President said the new laboratory complex positions UHAS to play a leading role in advancing medical research and developing solutions to future public health challenges in Ghana and across the region.
