The 2024 flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced that the Afari and Sewua hospitals in the Ashanti Region will be completed soon. 

He stated that these health facilities are set to be commissioned by August, providing essential services to the communities in the Ashanti Region.

This announcement follows complaints from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) regarding delays in completing major health projects in the region, which have exacerbated congestion and pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. 

The GMA emphasised that the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital and the 250-bed Sewua Hospital are critical projects that, once operational, will significantly ease the burden on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, a key referral center for 12 regions.

Criticising the government's focus, the GMA noted that while efforts are underway to build the Agenda 111 hospitals, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital continues to face significant challenges, despite fundraising efforts by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for its renovation. 

Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo, the GMA's Ashanti Regional President, argued that the resources allocated to the Agenda 111 projects could have been better used to enhance and retool the existing referral hospital.

Responding to these concerns, Dr Bawumia acknowledged the congestion issue at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and reaffirmed his commitment to the timely completion of the Afari and Sewua hospitals. 

He highlighted the importance of these projects in meeting the region's healthcare needs and pledged to prioritise their completion.

“With the overcrowding that we are seeing at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, I agree with the suggestion to dedicate resources to retooling the hospital.

“And with particular reference to the two hospitals that are almost done, Sewua which is a regional hospital, and Afari which is a military hospital, we expect Sewua to be commissioned hopefully by July [2024] and commission Afari in August [2024] as well," he said.