‘We Can’t Leave It for Rats and Snakes’ — Hon Boakye-Yiadom ‘Shocked’ After Finding Afari Military Hospital Overgrown
Gladson Afriyie
Journalist
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Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, was seen weeding around the Afari Military Hospital on Tuesday after finding the facility overgrown with bush during a Minority visit.
The Obuasi East MP told Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s _Frontline Show_ he was shocked by the state of the nearly completed 500-bed hospital.
“I was shocked after seeing the huge bush around the Afari Military Hospital yesterday during the Minority’s visit to the facility. That triggered me to start weeding the place because a facility which is almost 98% complete cannot be left to bush.”
“After I set eyes on the hospital and saw the bush around it, I became shocked because we used taxpayers’ money to construct the facility but the government wants it to rot.”
Boakye-Yiadom said the weeding was symbolic. The Minority visited to assess the hospital and push for its completion and operationalisation.
“The motive for weeding was to send a message to the government and the Health Minister that they have to complete the facility. We can’t leave it in the bush for rats and snakes,” he said.
He accused the government of showing no interest in the project. “The Minority believes the government hasn’t shown any concern that they want to touch the hospital.”
The MP called on Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to prioritize abandoned health projects over administrative actions. “He should stop sacking or suspending doctors and focus on completing abandoned projects,” Boakye-Yiadom said.
He cited pressure on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital as the reason the Afari facility must open immediately. “The government must open the abandoned facility immediately because there’s pressure on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.”
Boakye-Yiadom contrasted the current administration’s record with that of former President Akufo-Addo. “When Akufo-Addo came to power, he completed a lot of the abandoned projects. So the NDC government must do same.”
