An inspection visit by Parliament’s Minority Caucus to the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, was briefly halted after military personnel blocked the delegation from entering the facility, citing lack of prior authorisation.
The MPs had visited the hospital to assess the state of the long-delayed project and its readiness for full commissioning amid ongoing concerns about pressure on healthcare facilities in the Ashanti Region, particularly following recent disruptions at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The delegation said the visit was part of its oversight responsibility in the wake of heightened public concern over healthcare delivery challenges and reported strain on existing hospitals.
However, upon arrival at the facility, military officers stationed there intercepted the group and questioned their authority to access the premises without prior clearance.
A soldier at the gate challenged the lawmakers, demanding to know who had granted them permission to enter the restricted facility.
In response, Member of Parliament for Effiduase/Asokore, Ayew Afriye, maintained that the delegation was acting in the public interest as elected representatives of the people, insisting their visit was justified given the national importance of the project.
The exchange between the MPs and the security personnel grew tense for a brief period, with the soldier insisting that proper procedures had not been followed and that authorisation should have been obtained before entry.
According to the officer, the presence of security infrastructure and internal protocols required that all visits to the facility be coordinated through the appropriate channels, including law enforcement where necessary.
Mr. Afriye defended the Minority’s decision to visit the hospital, arguing that the situation surrounding healthcare delivery in the region required urgent attention and oversight.
He said the inspection was prompted by public concerns, including strain on major hospitals and the impact of recent labour-related disruptions within the health sector.
The standoff temporarily disrupted the planned inspection, although order was later restored, allowing the delegation to continue with parts of its assessment.
The Afari Military Hospital project, which was initially signed in 2008 as a turnkey agreement between the Government of Ghana and Euroget De-Invest, has faced years of delays.
Construction works began in 2014 with an expected completion date of 2017, but the facility has since remained incomplete in terms of full operationalisation due to a combination of technical, financial and administrative challenges.
Despite being structurally advanced, the hospital is yet to be fully commissioned, with successive delays continuing to attract public and political scrutiny over its long-term value and readiness for service.
