The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has pushed back on comments by Kennedy Ohene Agyapong that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration did “zero work” on the Afari Military Hospital, saying the project was 98% complete when the government left office in January 2025.
In a statement issued Wednesday, NPP Director of Communications Richard Ahiagbah said Agyapong’s remarks were “short on the facts” and gave a breakdown of work done on the hospital between 2017 and 2025.
“I have received numerous messages asking me to respond to comments made by Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong regarding the Afari Military Hospital project,” Ahiagbah said, adding that “since the issue has generated public discussion, I believe it deserves an honest and factual response.”
Ahiagbah said the Afari Military Hospital was about 40% complete when President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia took office in 2017. By January 7, 2025, he said the NPP administration had moved it to 98% completion.
He listed the status at handover as follows: civil works were 97.5% complete as of September 2024, architectural works 87% complete, roads 80% complete, and landscaping 77% complete.
“In practical terms, what remained to complete and hand over the hospital was just 2% of the outstanding work, estimated at approximately $500,000.
“That is all the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama needs to commit to completing the facility and begin saving lives,” he stated.
Ahiagbah referenced Agyapong’s campaign mantra, “Let Ken be Ken,” describing the NPP flagbearer hopeful as straightforward and blunt.
“When Kennedy Agyapong speaks forcefully and passionately, it is always in what he believes is Ghana’s interest,” he said.
He added: “So yes, his comment that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia Administration did zero work on Afari Military Hospital is being consumed as Ken being Ken, except that on this occasion, he clearly did not have the full facts about the project’s status.”
Ahiagbah added that if asked again with the full facts, he believes Agyapong would tell Ghanaians that the previous government moved the project from 40% in 2016 to 98% in 2025.
The NPP communications director said the current government only needs to make “a 2% effort, roughly $500,000,” to finish the job and put the hospital to use.
“To those engaging in political mischief and attempting to hide government non-performance behind Kennedy Agyapong’s comments, I tell you, Kennedy Agyapong cannot rescue your non-performing government. The Ghanaian people deserve facts, not propaganda,” he said.
