Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei-Mensah has voiced concerns over the continued delays in opening the Sewua and Afari Military hospitals, warning that this may lead to costly maintenance challenges due to the lifespan of the equipment already installed at these facilities.
The minister pointed out that the warranties on much of this equipment may expire if the hospitals are not operationalized soon, potentially adding significant expenses to the state’s budget for repairs and replacements.
The 250-bed Sewua Hospital and the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital have both experienced repeated delays in reaching operational status, missing various completion deadlines over the years.
Speaking at a government forum in Kumasi on Friday, November 8, where he highlighted the administration’s achievements in the Ashanti Region, Mr Osei-Mensah stressed the urgent need to commission these facilities and put them to use.
He emphasized that the hospitals would bring vital healthcare services to the region and reduce pressure on existing medical facilities, particularly the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
“I talked about two hospital facilities which I consider should be operationalised within the shortest possible time. We need to commission them for them to start receiving patients. These two are the Sewua Regional Hospital and the Afari Military Hospital. The Sewua Regional Hospital has a 250-bed capacity and the Afari Hospital has a 500-bed capacity.
“The reason why I’m saying we should commission them is that both of them are complete. Sewua is complete. What we’re waiting for is the access road, but the contractor is in the advanced stage, which we know he will complete in the next few weeks. Afari Hospital, we were having some challenges with the sewerage system.
“Now they have completed that so we can also commission them. My main concern is that if we don’t commission these facilities, within the shortest possible time, the warranty period for some of these equipment might elapse. It will mean we will have to find money and go and buy new ones. That is what we need to avoid.”