The Member of Parliament for Jirapa, Honourable Cletus Seidu Dapilah has criticised the New Patriotic Party over the pace of work on the Afari Military Hospital, arguing that policy decisions taken during its administration slowed progress on the project. He stated that key interventions that could have accelerated completion were reversed, placing additional strain on the contractor.

Discussing the project’s timeline, Honourable Dapilah recalled that construction of the hospital began in 2014 under the National Democratic Congress administration. The Jirapa MP noted that within three years, the project reached 40 percent completion.

He argued that this level of progress should provide context for evaluating subsequent developments. In his assessment, the pace of work recorded under the NPP does not justify the praise the party seeks from the public.

Honourable Dapilah indicated that the NPP had eight years to complete the remaining works after assuming office. He therefore questioned why the project failed to reach full completion within that period but failed to complete the work. Honourable Dapilah stated that the removal of a tax waiver granted to the contractor created serious operational difficulties.

The tax waiver, he explained, was intended to facilitate the importation of critical hospital equipment needed for construction and installation. Its removal, he added, disrupted procurement and delayed progress on the facility.

“One of the cardinal sins the NPP government committed was taking away the tax waiver granted to the contractor to bring in hospital equipment. That decision affected the progress of the project.”
Honourable Cletus Seidu Dapilah

The Jirapa MP further stated that the contractor was compelled to petition the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for the waiver to be reinstated. That appeal, he said, underscored the severity of the setback created by the decision.

Honourable Dapilah also pointed to the deteriorating condition of some hospital equipment. He noted that several materials reportedly left idle for extended periods have suffered damage and deterioration.

He argued that the state of those materials illustrates the cost of delayed execution. In addition, the Jirapa MP said public frustration over the project remains particularly strong in the Ashanti Region, where expectations were high.

Honourable Dapilah asserted that many residents in the region expected the hospital to be completed long before now. He suggested that unmet expectations contributed to voter dissatisfaction during the 2024 general election.

Funding Debate Intensifies Over Hospital Completion Costs

Honourable Cletus Seidu Dapilah defended recent remarks by Kennedy Agyapong, saying the former presidential aspirant spoke candidly about the project’s unfinished state. The Jirapa MP argued that criticism directed at Kennedy Agyapong overlooks the substance of his comments.

He stated that many supporters associated with former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia have targeted Kennedy Agyapong for speaking openly. Honourable Dapilah suggested that the backlash stemmed from discomfort with uncomfortable truths.

The Jirapa MP argued that Kennedy Agyapong’s central point concerned completion, not mere progress. He said the issue should be assessed by whether the hospital became operational after years of government oversight.

“What he said was they did not complete it. Eight years passed and the facility still remained unfinished, and that is the truth people are reacting to.”
Honourable Cletus Seidu Dapilah

Honourable Dapilah also rejected allegations that the current administration is creating avenues for financial abuse through revised project costs. He stated that claims of loot and share ignore the existing accountability mechanisms within government.

The Jirapa MP emphasised that all funding variations linked to the project would require parliamentary scrutiny and approval. He added that the Auditor General remains responsible for auditing every expenditure connected to the hospital.

While some figures suggest 500,000 United States dollars may suffice, others place the requirement at 85 million dollars or more. Honourable Dapilah questioned the lower estimate after reviewing the visible condition of the facility. He stated that damaged equipments and deteriorated infrastructure suggest additional procurement and rehabilitation costs.

He further indicated that the ultimate figure matters less, compared to ensuring the hospital becomes operational. In his view, even a significantly higher investment would be justified if it delivers a functional health facility capable of serving the nation.

“Even if government spends 100 million dollars to operationalise the Afari Military Hospital, I support it. What matters is accountability and completion.”
Honourable Cletus Seidu Dapilah

Honourable Dapilah described the Afari Military Hospital as one of the most important healthcare projects in the country. He said its completion would strengthen healthcare delivery and expand access to specialised medical services for many Ghanaians.