Twelve years after the sod was cut for the construction of a 500-bed Military Hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region, the $180 million facility remains incomplete due to contract disputes, severe mismanagement, and the theft of vital equipment.
The project, initiated in March 2014 under President John Dramani Mahama during his first terms, was originally scheduled for completion within 42 months.
However, Deputy Defence Minister Brogya Genfi revealed that the project has been hobbled by a series of administrative bottlenecks and financial standoffs.
By January 2017, civil and architectural works were 90% complete, but overall progress stood at just 57% as biomedical and mechanical installations lagged.
According to the Deputy Defence Minister, the situation deteriorated rapidly after a change in government, which led to the contractor abandoning the site.
“The contractor is demanding outstanding payments of $7 million and $78 million before returning to site, even though the previous regime claimed to have settled all obligations and refused further payment,” Genfi stated.
The prolonged delay has resulted in a significant waste of public resources. Medical equipment imported specifically for the hospital was left abandoned at the port, where it incurred heavy demurrage charges, with some pieces eventually being auctioned off.
He said a recent assessment shows the hospital has crawled to just 60% overall completion.
While structural elements are nearly finished at 97%, biomedical and mechanical installations have stalled at a mere 5%.
Furthermore, official reports indicate that several equipment warranties have expired, some technology has become obsolete, and other items have been stolen directly from the facility.
To prevent further losses, the Ghana Armed Forces have taken over security at the site, he said.
The Ministry of Defence has warned that all individuals must secure proper authorization before attempting to access the premises.
Moving forward, the government has re-engaged the contractor to review the existing agreement and is currently auditing all available medical equipment in the country to expedite the project’s recovery.
In a sharp rebuke of critics, Genfi urged the public to look directly at the timeline of the project’s stagnation.
“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,” Genfi said. “The facts speak for themselves.”
Below is the full statement
Military Hospital Project in Afari, Ashanti Region –
In March 2014, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama cut sod for the construction of a 500‑bed Military Hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region. The project, valued at $180 million, was scheduled for completion within 42 months, that is, by 2018. Yet, 12 years on, the hospital remains incomplete.
By January 2017, civil and architectural works stood at 90%, remaining biomedical and mechanical installations, leaving overall completion at 57%.
However, mismanagement, administrative bottlenecks and neglect over the years have stalled progress. When the new government assumed office, the contractor had abandoned site and no work was taking place at the site. The contractor is demanding outstanding payments of $7 million (Claim 1) and $78 million (Claim 2) before returning to site, even though the previous regime claimed to have settled all obligations and refused further payment.
To compound matters, medical equipment imported for the project was abandoned at the port, incurring heavy demurrages and some eventually auctioned – a tragic waste of resources.
Current state;
Currently, the hospital stands at 60% overall completion, with civil and architectural works at 97% but biomedical and mechanical installations at only 5%. Some warranties on medical equipment have expired, others have become outdated or stolen from the site, among other troubling developments.
Way forward;
Government has since re‑engaged the contractor, reviewing the contract and is currently assessing all medical equipments available in-country to ensure speedy recovery and completion.
Meanwhile, the project has been under the protection of the Ghana Armed Forces due to incidents of theft at the site. All persons are therefore encouraged to seek appropriate authorization before accessing the project site.
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 3 year project for 8 years.
The facts speak for themselves.
Thank you for your attention.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana