‘KATH Serving 12 Regions’ — Hon Boakye-Yiadom Demands Afari Hospital Opening, Says Gov’t Abandoned 98% Complete Facility
Gladson Afriyie
Journalist
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Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, says the Akufo-Addo administration completed 98% of the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region, but the current government has left it idle.
The Obuasi East MP spoke on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s _Frontline Show_ after Minority MPs on the Health Committee were blocked by military personnel from inspecting the 500-bed facility. The soldiers said they lacked authorization to grant the MPs access.
“We sought to inspect the 500-bed facility to press for its operationalization, citing healthcare strain at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.”
Boakye-Yiadom accused the NDC government of abandoning key health projects 18 months into office. “This NDC government has been in power for one and a half years now and they have decided to abandon the facility,” he said.
He added that several Agenda 111 facilities started under Akufo-Addo were near completion but remain unfinished. He cited the Trede and Oforikrom projects specifically.
“Some inherited projects like the Sewua Hospital in Bosomtwe and the Afari Military Hospital, former President Nana Akufo-Addo did his best to complete them,” he stated.
The MP said operationalizing Afari and other facilities would ease pressure on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, which now serves over 12 regions. Patients from Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast also seek treatment there.
“Because of that pressure, we need help by operationalising other nearby facilities in the region,” he said.
Boakye-Yiadom said Ashanti Region residents and the Minority do not understand why the Mahama government has left the Afari Military Hospital “in the bush” without commissioning it.
“The Minority’s intention to visit the facilities was not to do politics but to let the government know that governance is continuation,” he said.
He accused the NDC of campaigning on health infrastructure in 2024 but failing to deliver since taking office. “They were there to call on the government to remember his promises to Ghanaians during the 2024 campaign season. The then NDC in opposition did politics with these facilities, telling Ghanaians to vote for them and accused former President Nana Akufo-Addo of not doing well in the health sector. But after one and a half years in office, they’re performing worse.”
