The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, is looking forward to the completion of the 500-bed capacity Afari Military Hospital in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region by December 2022.

He has asked contractors on the project for a monthly “milestone” report.

“I don’t want excuses,” he told the contractors.

He says that though ministers and other top officials will visit the site practically every month to assess the status of the project, his team will be there daily.

Mr. Nitiwul acknowledges there are not many things to do to guarantee the contractors finish the job.

“We will do that as much as possible as a government to ensure that whatever he needs we will provide it for him,” he said.

To track development and engage with the contractors, the Defense Minister and members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health visited the hospital.

According to Mr. Nitiwul, the Ministry would make every effort to ensure the hospital is operational.

“Don’t say that if we don’t pay you are going to stop work. December, I am coming back here with the Committee to make sure we commission this hospital,” the Minister told the contractor.

The contractors are optimistic the facility will be finished on time based on the work done so far.

The installation of equipment has advanced, and all physical infrastructure have been completed.

Abou Shamaa, a resident engineer, is confident that the Hospital will rank among the top medical centers in the country.

A thorough training program has also been implemented to educate staff on how to operate the new technology, in preparation for full-scale operation.

The government awarded contracts Euroget, an Egyptian investment firm, to execute nine hospital projects in Ghana.

Five of those nine hospitals have been completed and handed over. They include the Wa Regional Hospital in the Upper West Region, the Ga East Municipal Hospital at Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region, the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Hospital at Tepa in the Ashanti Region, the Tain District Hospital in the Bono Region, and the Twifo-Atti-Morkwa District Hospital at Twifo Praso in the Central Region.

After the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, the Afari Military Hospital will serve as Ghana’s second military facility. As the primary referral center for the Ashanti Region and the middle sector, it will support the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

However, some members of the health committee have doubts the hospital will be finished on time.

Members of parliament for Agortime-Ziope and Amenfi West, Charles Agbeve and Eric Afful, are not persuaded.

“I am not convinced that, they will finish by December, considering the work left,” Mr. Agbeve said.

He notes that there is still more work to be done.

However, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, the chair of the parliamentary select committee on health, is pleased with the work done.

“I am very hopeful looking at the progress and milestone. I am very convinced that by December, they should be able to complete work,” he stated.

Mr. Nitiwul later expresses concern about the delay in finishing government facilities.

“I don’t think we should build a hospital over six years. It’s not a good thing. In future, we must make sure that if it is 3 years, it is 3 years.”

The Ministry of Defence is expecting a lot of civilians using the hospital with future air ambulances to make it more competitive.

While a military commander has already been posted to the facility, recruitment of about 2000 staff will begin in the next budget.