Patrick Boakye-Yiadom, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, has criticized the government for leaving the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital idle despite it being 98% complete.
Speaking on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Frontline Show, the Obuasi East MP stated that Minority MPs were blocked by military personnel from inspecting the facility due to a lack of authorization.
The visit was intended to assess the hospital and push for its operationalization to relieve the severe healthcare strain at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
“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 administration of abandoning key health infrastructure 18 months into its term, pointing out that several Agenda 111 projects—such as those in Trede and Oforikrom—remain unfinished.
“This NDC government has been in power for one and a half years now and they have decided to abandon the facility,” he said. “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.
According to the MP, KATH currently serves over 12 regions, as well as patients from Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Opening nearby facilities is critical to managing this regional pressure.
“Because of that pressure, we need help by operationalising other nearby facilities in the region,” he said. “The Minority’s intention to visit the facilities was not to do politics but to let the government know that governance is continuation.”
During the visit, Boakye-Yiadom was seen weeding the overgrown surroundings of the hospital, a gesture he described as a symbolic protest against state neglect.
“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.”
“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.
“The Minority believes the government hasn’t shown any concern that they want to touch the hospital.”
He criticized the ruling party for campaigning heavily on health infrastructure in 2024 while failing to deliver after 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.”
The MP called on Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to shift his focus toward completing these stalled infrastructure projects.
“He should stop sacking or suspending doctors and focus on completing abandoned projects,” Boakye-Yiadom said. “The government must open the abandoned facility immediately because there’s pressure on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.”
“When Akufo-Addo came to power, he completed a lot of the abandoned projects. So the NDC government must do same.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana