The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has challenged comments by former presidential aspirant Kennedy Agyapong regarding the Afari Military Hospital project, insisting that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration made substantial progress on the facility during its tenure.
In a statement responding to public discussions sparked by Kennedy Agyapong’s remarks, Ahiagbah said the claim that the previous administration did “zero work” on the project was inaccurate and failed to reflect the facts surrounding its development.
“The truth is that Ken’s claim that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration did nothing for Afari Military Hospital for eight years is short on facts,” Ahiagbah indicated.
According to him, when former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia assumed office in 2017, the Afari Military Hospital project was approximately 40 per cent complete.
He stated that by January 7, 2025, the project had reached 98 per cent completion, representing an additional 58 percent progress under the NPP administration.
Ahiagbah detailed the project’s status at the time of handover, indicating that the core civil works were 97.5 per cent complete as of September 2024, while architectural works stood at 87 per cent, roads at 80 per cent, and landscaping at 77 per cent completion.
He further argued that only about two per cent of the project remained outstanding, estimating the cost of completing the remaining work at approximately $500,000.
According to the NPP Communications Director, the current administration only needs to commit the necessary resources to complete the final phase of the project and make the facility operational.
Ahiagbah also dismissed attempts to use Kennedy Agyapong’s comments as a basis for criticising the former government, arguing that the facts demonstrate significant progress was made on the hospital during the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia era.
“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,” he noted.
He maintained that Ghanaians deserve factual information on the project rather than what he described as political propaganda, stressing that the record shows the previous administration advanced the hospital from 40 per cent to 98 per cent completion before leaving office.
Read full statement by Ahiagbah below
RICHARD AHIAGBAH, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, NPP, ANSWERS MISCHIEF MAKERS ON HON. KENNEDY AGYAPONG’S COMMENTS ON AFARI MILITARY HOSPITAL
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, 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 taken 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.
The truth is that Ken’s claim that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration did nothing for Afari Military Hospital for eight years is short on 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
1. Architectural Works: 87% complete
2. Roads: 80% complete
3. 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 completing 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 tell you, 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
