Deputy Defence Minister, Ernest Brogya Genfi has said the government is taking steps to revive and complete the long delayed 500-bed Military Hospital project at Afari in the Ashanti Region, nearly 12 years after construction began.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Genfi said the project, which was launched by President John Dramani Mahama in March 2014 at an estimated cost of 180 million dollars, was expected to be completed within 42 months. However, the facility remains unfinished.
According to him, by January 2017, civil and architectural works on the hospital had reached 90 per cent completion, while the remaining biomedical and mechanical installations left the overall project at 57 per cent complete.
Mr Genfi blamed years of mismanagement, administrative delays and neglect for the stalled project. He said when the current government took office, work on the site had come to a standstill and the contractor had abandoned the project.
He explained that the contractor is demanding the payment of outstanding claims amounting to 85 million dollars before returning to site. The claims include 7 million dollars under one claim and 78 million dollars under another, despite previous assurances that all contractual obligations had been settled.
The Deputy Defence Minister also revealed that medical equipment procured for the hospital had been left at the port for an extended period, resulting in substantial demurrage charges. Some of the equipment, he said, was eventually auctioned, describing the situation as a significant waste of public resources.
Mr Genfi said the project is currently about 60 per cent complete. While civil and architectural works have reached 97 per cent completion, biomedical and mechanical installations remain at only 5 per cent.
He added that some warranties on medical equipment have expired, while other items have become obsolete or have been stolen from the site.
As part of efforts to complete the facility, the government has re engaged the contractor and is reviewing the contract. Authorities are also assessing all medical equipment currently available in the country to determine what can be used for the project and accelerate completion.
Mr Genfi said the Ghana Armed Forces is providing security at the site following reported incidents of theft and warned that anyone seeking access to the project area must obtain the necessary authorisation.
He said the government remained committed to completing the hospital for the benefit of the Ghana Armed Forces and residents of the Ashanti Region.
“While we work tirelessly to salvage this project and deliver the hospital to the Ghana Armed Forces and the people of Ashanti, let us be spared the provocations of those who slept on a three year project for eight years,” he said.
“The facts speak for themselves.”
