I have received numerous messages asking me to respond to comments made by Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong regarding the Afari Military Hospital project. Quite frankly, many of those forwarding these messages are doing so with mischief in mind. But since the issue has generated public discussion, I believe it deserves an honest and factual response.
Let me begin by borrowing from Hon. Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign mantra: “Let Ken be Ken.” What does that mean? It means Kennedy Agyapong is straightforward. He speaks his mind. He is fearless and blunt, saying things as he sees them. That is his brand, and many Ghanaians appreciate him for it.
When Kennedy Agyapong speaks forcefully and passionately, it is always in what he believes is Ghana’s interest. So yes, his comment that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration did zero work on Afari Military Hospital is being consumed as Ken being Ken, except that on this occasion, he clearly did not have the full facts about the project’s status at the time he spoke.
Because the truth is that Ken’s claim that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration did nothing on Afari Military Hospital for eight years is short on the facts.
Here are the facts. When President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia assumed office in 2017, the Afari Military Hospital project was approximately 40% complete. By January 7, 2025, the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration had moved the project to 98% completion. That means the NPP government delivered an additional 58% completion progress, surpassing what had been achieved before 2017.
The completion status at handover in 2025 was as follows:
- Civil Works (Core Hospital): 97.5% complete as of September 2024
- Architectural Works: 87% complete
- Roads: 80% complete
- Landscaping: 77% complete
In practical terms, what remained to complete and hand over the hospital was just 2% of the outstanding work, estimated at approximately $500,000. That is all the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama needs to commit to in order to complete the facility and begin saving lives.
So to those engaging in political mischief and attempting to hide government non-performance behind Kennedy Agyapong’s comments, I say Kennedy Agyapong cannot rescue your non-performing government. He would not.
And now that he is fully seized with the facts surrounding Afari Military Hospital, I do not doubt that if asked again, he will tell Ghanaians that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration moved Afari Military Hospital from 40% completion in 2016 to 98% completion, and that all the current government needs to do is make a 2% effort, roughly $500,000, to finish the job and put the hospital to use.
The Ghanaian people deserve facts, not propaganda.
Richard Ahiagbah
Director of Communications
New Patriotic Party
