Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has publicly admitted that the party failed to complete the Afari Military Hospital during its eight years in government, insisting that political leaders must be honest about their shortcomings and put Ghana’s interests first.
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Speaking to journalists after donating a pickup truck and 15 motorcycles to the Ghana Police Service at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters on Tuesday, 16 June, the former Assin Central MP said the debate over the long-delayed project should rise above partisan politics.
Kennedy Agyapong admits NPP failed to complete Afari Military Hospital
Kennedy Agyapong, who previously chaired Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, acknowledged that although the NPP had ample time in office, it did not do what was necessary to complete and operationalise the health facility in the Ashanti Region.
According to him, the hospital’s foundation was laid during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor before major construction works were undertaken by a subsequent National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
He said the NPP later inherited the project but failed to bring it to completion.
“This hospital was started by President John Agyekum Kufuor. The locations and all those things. NDC came to start it, and when we came, I am NPP, and I am telling you the gospel truth. I was the chairman for Defence and Interior, and we didn’t do anything.”
‘We had eight years and didn’t do it’
The outspoken politician criticised attempts to place the blame solely on the current NDC administration, arguing that the previous government had sufficient time to address the situation.
“We were there for eight years, and we didn’t do it,” he said.
“NDC started it. Why didn’t you complete it? You were there for eight years and didn’t complete it. When somebody comes for 15 months, then you have a problem.”
His comments come as the Afari Military Hospital continues to generate public discussion over delays in its completion and operationalisation.
Defence Committee inspection allegedly blocked
Kennedy Agyapong also revealed that efforts by Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee to inspect the facility while he served as chairman never materialised.
According to him, planned visits to the project site were halted before they could take place.
“When we decided to go and inspect Afari, they stopped us. I heard somebody saying the Afari Hospital has been there for 15 months, but we were there for eight years and didn’t do it,” he stated.
He did not elaborate on who prevented the planned inspection.
Ghana’s development should come before party politics
Beyond the hospital itself, Kennedy Agyapong argued that politicians should be prepared to acknowledge failures regardless of party affiliation.
He maintained that constructive criticism should apply equally to both the NPP and the NDC if Ghana is to make meaningful progress.
“We should criticise NPP and NDC. That’s the only way to go,” he said.
“We should love our nation and stop playing politics with everything.”
Why the Afari Military Hospital matters
The Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region has long been viewed as an important healthcare infrastructure project expected to serve military personnel and civilians alike.
Its prolonged delay has remained a subject of public concern, with renewed debate over accountability, project completion and the need to improve access to quality healthcare infrastructure in the country.
Kennedy Agyapong’s remarks have added a notable voice from within the NPP itself, placing responsibility not only on the current administration but also on his own party’s record during its eight years in office.
