Omanghana
The Minority in Parliament has challenged claims that the government requires an additional $85 million to complete the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region, arguing instead that only $500,000 remains outstanding under the existing contractual arrangements.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, Member of Parliament for Atwima Kwanwoma and former Chairman of the Ministry of Defence Project Implementation Unit, accused the government of misrepresenting the project’s financial status.
He maintained that official records indicate the contractor is owed a significantly smaller amount than the figure recently cited by government officials.
Minority Cites Financial Records
According to the Minority, documentation from the Ministries of Finance and Defence shows that the original $180 million loan facility used to finance construction has already been fully disbursed to the project’s main contractor, Euroget De-Invest.
The group further stated that an additional $19.3 million negotiated to address delays associated with relocating the project site has also been paid in full.
Regarding subsequent claims submitted by the contractor, the Minority contends that an initial demand of $6.5 million was negotiated down to $3 million, of which $2.5 million has already been settled. Based on those figures, they argue that only $500,000 remains unpaid before the project can move toward completion.
Government and Minority Offer Conflicting Assessments
The disagreement follows recent remarks by Deputy Minister for Defence Brogya Genfi, who reportedly indicated that the hospital remains substantially incomplete, with biomedical and mechanical installations progressing slowly and overall work standing at around 60 percent.
Government officials have suggested that the contractor is unwilling to resume full operations until outstanding financial issues are resolved.
The Minority, however, disputes that assessment, asserting that civil and architectural works are nearly complete and that the facility’s structural components have already been finished to a high standard, including roofing, painting, and air-conditioning installations.
Members of the caucus have warned against approving additional funding without a thorough review, insisting that any request for $85 million should be carefully scrutinized.
Long-Delayed Project Remains Crucial
The Afari Military Hospital, originally commissioned in March 2014, was envisioned as a state-of-the-art 500-bed medical facility designed to enhance healthcare delivery in the Ashanti Region.
Once completed, the hospital is expected to help reduce pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi by expanding access to specialized medical services and increasing bed capacity for patients across the region.
With conflicting accounts over the project’s financial requirements and completion status, the future timeline for delivering the long-awaited facility remains a subject of ongoing public and political debate.
Source: Omanghana
