Ghana opposition disputes $85m hospital debt claim, says only $500,000 owed

Ghana's opposition NPP Minority Caucus has challenged the government's assertion that $85 million remains outstanding for the Afari Military Hospital project. The caucus asserts that the actual debt owed to the contractor is only $500,000.

At a press conference in Parliament, Deputy Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, presented figures suggesting the government's claim is a "complete fabrication." He stated that official records from the Ministry of Defence indicate the core hospital was 92.5% complete as of September 2024, and the overall project reached 98% completion by January 2025 under the previous NPP administration.

Amankwa-Manu detailed the completion rates for various project components, including civil works at 97.5% and architectural works at 87%. He noted that the original contract of $180 million, plus an additional $19.3 million negotiated due to project delays, had been paid. He further explained that out of a $3 million claim, $2.5 million had been paid, leaving the $500,000 balance.

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The narrative being peddled that the 500-bed facility is only 60 per cent complete, is a complete fabrication designed to justify an outrageous financial demand.

The caucus attributed the project's six-year delay to the NDC government's decision to relocate the site, which they claim led to an additional $36 million claim from the contractor, later negotiated down to $19.3 million. Amankwa-Manu urged the current government to ensure the remaining 2% of the project is completed.

This dispute follows an incident where security personnel denied entry to MPs visiting the project site to assess its progress, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding the hospital's completion and financial status.

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To jump from an outstanding balance of US$ 500,000 to a sudden demand for US$ 85 million is not just mathematical, it is indeed criminal.