Richard Ahiagbah counters Kennedy Agyapong on Afari Military Hospital, says NPP moved project from 40% to 98% completion
NPP communications director provides project figures, says Mahama administration needs only 2% and $500,000 to finish facility
Richard Ahiagbah, director of communications for the New Patriotic Party, has responded to comments by Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong on the Afari Military Hospital project, stating that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration delivered significant progress before leaving office.
Ahiagbah said he had received numerous messages asking him to address Agyapong’s claim that the NPP government did “zero work” on the hospital over eight years. While describing Agyapong as “straightforward, fearless and blunt,” he argued that the comment lacked full facts on the project’s status.
From 40% to 98% completion
According to Ahiagbah, when President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia assumed office in 2017, the Afari Military Hospital stood at about 40% completion. By January 7, 2025, he said the project had reached 98% completion.
“That means the NPP government delivered an additional 58% completion progress, surpassing what had been achieved before 2017,” Ahiagbah stated.
He broke down the status at handover as follows:
1. Civil works, core hospital: 97.5% complete as of September 2024
2. Architectural works*: 87% complete
3. Roads: 80% complete
4. Landscaping: 77% complete
$500,000 left to finish
Ahiagbah said only about 2% of outstanding work remained, estimated at roughly $500,000. He argued that the current administration under President John Dramani Mahama needs to commit that amount to complete and operationalize the hospital.
“So, 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,” he wrote.
“Let Ken be Ken, but facts matter”
Ahiagbah began his response by referencing Agyapong’s campaign mantra “Let Ken be Ken,” noting that the Assin Central MP speaks his mind and is appreciated for it. However, he said on this occasion Agyapong “clearly did not have the full facts about the project’s status.”
He added that with the facts now available, Agyapong would likely acknowledge that the NPP moved the hospital from 40% in 2016 to 98% in 2025, and that finishing it requires just a 2% effort.
“The Ghanaian people deserve facts, not propaganda,” Ahiagbah concluded.
The Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region was initiated under the previous Mahama administration to serve military personnel and civilians. Debate over its completion has resurfaced in recent weeks amid public discussion on health infrastructure delivery.
