The Minority in Parliament has dismissed assertions that the contractor for the Afari Military Hospital is seeking an additional US$85 million to resume work on the project, describing the figure as baseless and warning against any attempt to approve such a payment.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, Deputy Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, challenged comments attributed to Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi regarding the financial status of the project.

According to Mr. Amankwa-Manu, available records do not support claims that contractor Euroget De-Invest (EDI) has requested US$85 million before returning to site to complete the facility.

He maintained that the project's original contract value of US$180 million, financed through a loan arrangement, has already been fully settled.

The Minority MP further stated that an additional US$19.3 million negotiated to address costs associated with delays in the project had also been paid in full.

He explained that a subsequent compensation claim initially exceeding US$6.5 million was renegotiated to US$3 million, of which US$2.5 million has already been disbursed.

According to him, the only outstanding payment due the contractor is US$500,000.

Mr. Amankwa-Manu questioned how an unpaid balance of that size could be linked to an alleged demand of US$85 million, insisting that the figures do not align with the project's financial records.

He cautioned against any move to authorise what he described as an unjustified payment, arguing that such a decision would raise serious concerns about accountability and the prudent use of public funds.

The Minority also called on the government to settle the remaining balance owed to the contractor and facilitate the completion of the outstanding works on the hospital project.

Mr. Amankwa-Manu stressed that the Minority would continue to scrutinise any expenditure related to the project to ensure value for money and safeguard the national purse.

The comments add to the growing dispute over the status and financing of the Afari Military Hospital project, with government officials and the Minority offering sharply contrasting accounts of the project's outstanding obligations and completion requirements.