The Defence Minister, Hon Dominic Nitiwul and some members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, embarked on a tour of the Military Hospital at Afari in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region.

The visit was to inspect progress of work at the Hospital. The Minister and his entourage were briefed on the progress of work by the Resident Project Engineer, Abo Shamaa, as well as the Chartered Engineer and Advisor for the Government of Ghana, Mr Bernard D Moro.

The Defence Minister, Hon Dominic Nitiwul said work on the project had stalled due to delay in financial approval by the Ministry of Finance. According to him, the sub-contractors on the project were later changed, which took a while before work commenced, thereby causing the delay in the completion date. The new subcontractors moved to site finally in November 2018 to commence work which is progressing steadily.

Hon Nitiwul explained that the hospital was scheduled to be built at Tamale, but was later relocated to Accra, before it was finally moved to its current location. The agreement for the facility was signed between the Government of Ghana and Messrs Euroget De- Invest in August 2008, for the 500-bed facility with residential staff housing.

In his submission, the Minister emphasized that Government will do everything possible to ensure that the facility becomes operational in 2023, as it budgets to recruit 2,000 personnel.

The Member of Parliament for Effiduase Asokore and Chairman of the Committee on Health, Hon Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie expressed satisfaction of work done so far and was hopeful that soon, the hospital will be completed for use.