The Minister for Defence, Hon Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, together with his entourage, embarked on an inspection tour of the Military Hospital under construction at Afari in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region. The facility, a key national health infrastructure project, is being undertaken by Euroget De-Invest Company and has faced prolonged delays since its commencement.
Hon Dr Boamah and his team were received and briefed by the Resident Project Engineer, Abo Shamaa, and the Commander of the Afari Military Hospital, Brigadier General Mensah. The Project Engineer led the Minister and his delegation on a tour of various sections of the hospital, including the Outpatient Department, Emergency and Ambulance Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward, 20-bed Inpatient Ward, the Power Station, and other critical service areas.
In his briefing, Brigadier General Mensah underscored the hospital’s strategic importance to the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation at large. He explained that the 500-bed capacity facility, which also includes residential accommodation for staff, is expected to ease the operational burden on the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. Once completed, it will serve as a major referral and treatment centre for military personnel in the Central and Northern sectors of the country, in addition to providing healthcare to the general public.
The project, which began on March 2, 2014, was initially scheduled for completion in December 2018. However, financial constraints and high-level contractual issues between the then Government of Ghana and the contractors contributed to significant delays, leaving the project largely incomplete.
Expressing concern over the stalled progress, Hon Dr Omane Boamah reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing its healthcare infrastructure agenda. He assured both the military and civilian populations that the Afari Military Hospital will be fully operational by September 2025. The Minister stressed that the delay is unacceptable and called for a renewed sense of urgency to ensure the timely delivery of the facility.
To that end, he called for immediate engagement with the project contractors and all relevant stakeholders to resolve the outstanding issues inherited from the previous administration. He emphasised the need for transparency and cost-effectiveness in completing the remaining phases of the project, noting that such critical infrastructure cannot remain dormant while pressing healthcare needs persist.
In a related development, the Minister and his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Manhyia Palace, where they held discussions on national security, with particular focus on the ongoing conflict in Bawku. The meeting explored strategies for sustainable peace in the area, as part of the Defence Ministry’s broader objective of promoting internal stability across the country.
Gracing the occasion were the Interior Minister, Hon Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Dr Frank Amoakohene, Chief of the Defence Staff, General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, some Senior Military Officers and other distinguished dignitaries.
