The government has not provided a clear timeline for the completion and operationalisation of the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region, as work continues to salvage the long-delayed project, according to the Deputy Defence Minister.

The update by Yaw Brogya Genfi comes 24 hours after opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority members of Parliament were blocked by military personnel from accessing the site during an attempted oversight visit.

The MPs, who serve on Parliament’s Health Committee, had intended to inspect the facility and draw attention to its readiness for use, but were prevented from entering by soldiers stationed at the project site.

In a Facebook post, Genfi outlined the current state of the project but did not indicate when the hospital would become operational, saying government is focused on completing outstanding works and resolving contractual issues.

He said the 500-bed facility, initiated in March 2014, is now about 60% complete overall, with civil and architectural works at around 97%, while biomedical and mechanical installations stand at about 5%.

According to him, the contractor had previously abandoned the site amid disputes over payments and is now in renewed discussions with government as part of efforts to resume and complete work.

Genfi also said imported medical equipment had been left at the port for extended periods, resulting in demurrage charges, with some items reportedly auctioned and others becoming obsolete or missing.

He added that the project site is currently under protection by the Ghana Armed Forces due to reported incidents of theft, and stressed that access is restricted and requires appropriate authorisation.

The Deputy Defence Minister’s statement follows growing political attention on the project after the blocked parliamentary visit, with the Minority raising concerns about access and the state of the facility.

The Afari Military Hospital, first launched in 2014, remains one of Ghana’s most delayed infrastructure projects, with successive governments pledging to complete it but no firm commissioning date yet announced.