Chaos at Afari Military Hospital as soldiers block entry to minority MPs from Parliament’s Health Committee
A brief standoff occurred at the Afari Military Hospital in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday after military personnel reportedly prevented Minority members of Parliament’s Health Committee from accessing parts of the facility during an official inspection visit.
The MPs said they were at the hospital to assess the progress of the long-delayed project as part of Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.
However, soldiers stationed at the facility insisted that access to certain sections required prior authorization and refused entry when the lawmakers were unable to provide the necessary clearance.
Witnesses said tensions flared at the hospital premises as both parties engaged in a heated exchange over the issue.
The Minority MPs maintained that their oversight mandate empowered them to inspect publicly funded projects without additional approval, while the military officers argued that security regulations governing military installations had to be strictly observed.
Although the confrontation drew attention from workers and visitors at the site, no injuries or arrests were reported.
The situation was eventually brought under control, but the committee was unable to inspect the areas at the center of the dispute before leaving the facility.
The incident has renewed concerns about the future of the Afari Military Hospital project, which has been plagued by delays despite being regarded as a major healthcare infrastructure investment for the region.
Some residents and healthcare stakeholders have expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in making the hospital fully operational, arguing that the latest disagreement raises further questions about transparency and accountability surrounding the project.
Neither Parliament’s Health Committee nor military authorities had issued an official statement on the incident as of Wednesday evening.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
