Why Afari Hospital is set to become 38 Military Hospital - Kokofu details

Former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has explained why the military hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region which attracted public attention could appropriately be named the 38 Military Hospital.

Speaking in an interview on Ade Kye Bia on Okay FM and sighted by GhanaWeb on June 15, 2026, Kokofu stated that Ghana’s renowned 37 Military Hospital got its name because it was the 37th military hospital established by the British colonial administration in West Africa during the colonial era.

According to Kokofu, the hospital, originally known as No. 37 General Hospital, was established on July 4, 1941, by British General George Giffard when Ghana was still known as the Gold Coast under British colonial rule.

Its primary purpose was to provide treatment for soldiers injured in military campaigns, including operations in Burma and other parts of West Africa during World War II.

“The 37 Military Hospital was the 37th one built during the World War by the British colonial administration in West Africa. Ghana had the 37th one, and since then, no other military hospital has been built,” Kokofu stated during the interview.

Citing historical records Kokofu explained that the number ‘37’ reflects the hospital’s position as the 37th military hospital built in British colonies in West Africa.

The facility was later renamed the 37 Military Hospital of the Gold Coast in 1956 and eventually expanded its services to civilians while retaining its military character and personnel structure.

Weeds take over Afari Military Hospital after gov’t ‘failed’ to operationalise it

“The 37 Military Hospital stands as a testament to Ghana’s resilience and commitment to the well-being of its people,” Kokofu noted, adding that the facility has evolved significantly since its establishment in 1941 while maintaining its foundational military ethos.

He further argued that because no additional military hospital had been built in Ghana since the establishment of the 37 Military Hospital, the yet to be commissed Afari Military Hospital could logically be designated as the 38 Military Hospital.

“Since then, no other military hospital has been built, so if the Afari Military Hospital is named the 38 Military Hospital, there will be nothing wrong with that,” Kokofu said.

Why Afari Hospital is back in the news

Members of Parliament on the Minority Health Committee visited the site on June 10, 2026, to assess its current condition amid mounting pressure on the Accident and Emergency Centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

The visit was led by the Ranking Member of the Minority Health Committee, Dr Ayew Afriye, as part of efforts to evaluate the state of unfinished and underutilised health infrastructure projects across the country.

According to the committee, "the delegation was initially granted access to inspect the facility by a security guard stationed at the premises. The MPs were able to walk through sections of the hospital to observe its condition firsthand."

However, the situation reportedly changed shortly after the inspection began.

Members of the committee say the security guard later returned and instructed them to leave the premises.

MRA/VPO

Meanwhile, watch as Joffery Nortey shares his career journey from comedy to content creation