The government was yet to meet its full financial obligations to Euroget De-Invest, the Egyptian investment company awarded the contract to build nine hospitals across the country, including the Ashanti Regional Hospital situated at Sewua in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti, which was commissioned on Saturday by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The President at a ceremony commissioned the 250-Bed Ashanti Regional Hospital and a 50-Bed Infectious Disease Centre in Sewua in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti.

But the contractor, Eurojet De-Invest has rejected the commissioning in a statement, arguing that the project was not complete for it to be commissioned. 

In a statement issued by Eurojet in Accra on Sunday, January 5, 2025 and signed by Said Deraz, the Group Chairman, Euroget De-Invest said the hospital project was not yet fully completed, and had not yet been handed over to government, while government was still yet to meet its full financial obligations to the contractors.

It said the commissioning of the hospital by President Akufo-Addo was "conducted in direct violation of the terms of our contract."

The company went ahead and provided five photos [attached below] to support its argument that the project was not complete and has not been handed over to the government.

Euroget De-Invest was awarded the contract for nine hospitals across the country, including the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua.

In the statement, the company said "while we acknowledge the importance of healthcare infrastructure in the Ashanti Region", the ceremony "raises serious concerns regarding legal and contractual obligations".

"It is important to stress  that Euroget De-Invest S.A. has not yet received full payment for the construction of the hospital. Furthermore, the project remains incomplete and has not yet been officially handed over to the government." 

"As the contractor, we retain possession of the site until the project is handed over correctly and legally. We categorically did not grant permission to any party to enter the site for commissioning purposes," the statement said.

“Euroget did not give anyone permission to enter the site. Possession is still ours until we hand over in the correct and legal manner,” the statement added.

“This is a breach of the contract. We haven’t handed over, and every step should be taken to claim damages against all previous commissioning because, by this action, the President is implying that he could have commissioned those hospitals without incurring any costs on our part.”

It added that "the fact that the government proceeded with the commissioning without consulting Euroget raises questions about the adherence to legal protocols and sanctity of contracts. The company, which secured the funding for the hospital’s construction, was not consulted regarding this purported commissioning. Additionally, there was no representative from Euroget present at the event, which accentuates our exclusion from a critical milestone in the project".

The chairman of the company said they believed that the government’s actions "constitute a serious breach of security concerning the hospital. Entering the premises without our permission to undertake the commissioning, while the hospital remains incomplete and without the contractor being fully compensated, reflects a disregard for the law and contractual agreements. 

"This situation represents a level of lawlessness that cannot be overlooked. Please find attached to this release photos of the current state of the hospital which reinforces this statement," it added.

The statement said "as we approach the transition of power in Ghana, we are left questioning the motives behind such an action. Why would an outgoing President engage in such illegality just three days before handing over office? We must stress that the timing of this commissioning raises concerns about the legitimacy of the actions taken and whether they serve any political agenda rather than the interests of the citizens who rely on these healthcare facilities.

"It is fundamental for all stakeholders, including the public, to understand the implications of these actions. The commissioning of the Ashanti Regional 250 bed Hospital should be a moment of pride and achievement for all involved; however, it has instead become a source of contention and uncertainty. We urge the government to respect the rule of law and adhere to the contractual obligations it has entered into," the statement further stated. 

It called upon relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly. 

"The actions taken by the government not only undermine the integrity of the project but also set a worrying precedent for future government contracts and projects. The people of the Ashanti Region deserve better than to have their healthcare infrastructure embroiled in legal disputes and contractual violations," the statement said.

It stated, however, that Euroget De-Invest S.A. remained committed to completing the 250-bed hospital "to the highest standards and fulfilling our contractual obligations". 

"We hope that this situation can be resolved amicably and that the government will recognise the importance of following due process in all its dealings. We are prepared to take all necessary steps to protect our rights and seek damages for any breaches of contract that have occurred," it added.

Attached below is a copy of the statement from Eurojet