By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday criticized the John Mahama-led government for abandoning the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital project in the Ashanti Region.
According to the Caucus, the facility could help ease pressure on the country’s healthcare system if completed and operationalized.
Led by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Nana Ayew Afriyie, the MPs visited the hospital site as part of a tour of what they described as neglected health infrastructure projects.
During the visit, they voiced their concern about the facility’s deteriorating condition, which they claimed has remained unused despite significant public investment.
The minority argued that government should prioritize completing existing health projects before embarking on new ones.
According to Nana Ayew Afriyie, billions of dollars have already been invested in health infrastructure projects, and relatively modest additional funding could make facilities such as the Afari Military Hospital operational.
He also questioned delays in payments to contractors and called for greater transparency regarding efforts to complete the project.
The visit was marked by a confrontation between the MPs and military personnel stationed at the facility. Soldiers reportedly insisted that the lawmakers had entered the premises without prior authorization, while the MPs maintained that their parliamentary oversight role entitled them to inspect publicly funded projects.
The Afari Military Hospital project, which began in 2014, was initially expected to be completed years ago but has faced repeated delays linked to financial and contractual challenges.
The facility is intended to serve both military personnel and civilians and to reduce pressure on existing hospitals, particularly in northern and central Ghana.
The Minority says the completion of the hospital has become even more urgent amid concerns about healthcare delivery and capacity constraints at major referral facilities, including the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
