The long-delayed 500-bed Military Hospital project at Afari in the Ashanti Region is about 60% complete, with government saying it has re-engaged the contractor and is taking steps to restart and finish the facility, the Deputy Minister for Defence has said.

Ernest Brogya Genfi said the project, initiated in March 2014 under the John Dramani Mahama administration, was originally expected to be completed within 42 months but has remained unfinished more than a decade later.

He said civil and architectural works are now significantly advanced, at about 97%, while biomedical and mechanical installations remain largely incomplete at around 5%.

According to him, the overall completion level currently stands at about 60%, compared with 57% recorded in January 2017 when major structural works had largely progressed but critical installations were still outstanding.

“By January 2017, civil and architectural works stood at 90%, with remaining biomedical and mechanical installations, leaving overall completion at 57%,” he said.

The Deputy Minister attributed the prolonged delays to what he described as mismanagement, administrative bottlenecks and periods of neglect over the years, adding that the contractor had at some point abandoned the site.

He disclosed that the contractor is demanding outstanding payments of about $7 million under one claim and $78 million under another before returning to complete the project, despite earlier indications that obligations had been settled.

Genfi also raised concerns about imported medical equipment for the facility, saying some items were left at the port and incurred demurrage charges, while others were auctioned or became obsolete over time.

He said some equipment warranties have expired, while others have been stolen or rendered unusable due to prolonged exposure and lack of maintenance.

On the way forward, he said government has re-engaged the contractor and is reviewing the contract as part of efforts to restart and complete the project.

He added that an assessment is ongoing to account for available medical equipment in-country to support the completion process.

Genfi further noted that the Ghana Armed Forces currently provide security at the site due to incidents of theft and vandalism.

He urged the public to seek appropriate authorisation before accessing the site, stressing the need to safeguard remaining infrastructure as efforts continue to complete the facility for the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ashanti Region.

The Afari Military Hospital remains one of Ghana’s most delayed health infrastructure projects, with renewed attention on its completion timeline amid ongoing debates over funding, contract obligations and accountability.