The Minority in Parliament has dismissed claims by the government that an outstanding payment of 85 million US dollars is delaying the completion of the Afari Military Hospital project in the Ashanti Region.
The controversy follows a recent Facebook post by Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, who suggested that the contractor had demanded payment of an alleged outstanding debt before returning to site to complete the facility.
However, speaking at a press briefing in Parliament, former Deputy Defence Minister Kofi Amankwa-Manu rejected the claim, insisting that official records indicate the contractor is owed only about 500,000 US dollars.
He argued that the project was substantially completed before the change of government and accused the current administration of attempting to justify what he described as an inflated and unfounded financial claim.
The Minority caucus maintained that the hospital project was near completion and should not be stalled by disputes over alleged arrears.
They are therefore calling on government to immediately settle the verified outstanding amount and expedite work towards the completion and operationalisation of the Afari Military Hospital to improve healthcare delivery in the area.
