The Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has assured Ghanaians that the long-abandoned Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region will be completed and operational by September 2025.
Speaking to the media after inspecting the facility alongside the Minister for the Interior and other key officials, Dr. Boamah reaffirm the government’s commitment to fast-tracking the project, which has been delayed for six years despite its initial completion timeline of 40 months.
“This project should have been completed years ago. The delay has caused unnecessary deterioration of medical equipment already delivered on-site. However, we are determined to reset Ghana, and this includes ensuring the completion of critical healthcare infrastructure,” he stated.
The Defence Minister also addressed issues of land encroachment, which he said were being assessed with the support of the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry to protect the designated area for the hospital.
He further indicated that discussions with the project contractors and relevant stakeholders would be held in Accra next week to resolve outstanding issues and ensure cost-effectiveness in completing the facility.
“We will meet all significant decision-makers, including the Ministry of Finance, to finalize the way forward. This project cannot go beyond September,” he assured.
The Afari Military Hospital, initiated in 2014 under the John Mahama-led administration, was intended to serve military personnel and the general public, easing pressure on existing healthcare facilities in the Ashanti Region and beyond.
However, delays in execution have left the 500-bed facility unfinished, with medical equipment sitting idle.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reviving stalled projects, stressing that national development should not be hindered by political transitions.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
