The Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has raised serious concerns over the malfunctioning of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and scan machines at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), which have reportedly been out of service for over two years.
The Minister made the revelation during a surprise visit to the hospital on Friday, 11 April 2025. He was accompanied by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, and other officials from the Ministry of Health.
They were received by the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Ralph Ahmah, who led the team on a tour of key departments, including the emergency ward, radiology department, outpatient department (OPD), and the administration block.
It was during this inspection that the delegation discovered the MRI and scan machines had not been operational for more than two years—despite documentation presented during the ministerial transition that suggested otherwise.
“According to the documents we received during the transition period, there was supposed to be a program in place to repair and maintain all equipment in the hospital,” Mr. Akandoh said. “However, upon reviewing the actual situation on the ground, we discovered that this was not the case.”
Addressing journalists after the tour, the Health Minister expressed disappointment and said the current state of Ridge Hospital does not reflect what was handed over to the previous administration.
“This is not the Ridge Hospital we handed over to the NPP government in 2016. This is not the hospital we proudly spoke about. The MRI and scan machines are not working. Even getting to the emergency ward washroom required walking nearly two kilometers. Ridge must return to its glory days, and we are committed to making that happen,” he stated.
Mr. Akandoh, who is also the Member of Parliament for Juaboso, stressed the importance of diagnostic equipment like MRI and scan machines in delivering quality healthcare and assured the public that efforts are underway to fix them.
“We will engage with medical directors and chief executives of various health facilities to find sustainable solutions. I don’t understand why hospitals cannot use internally generated funds (IGF) to service vital equipment when it breaks down,” he added.
The Minister also noted that he will continue to conduct unannounced visits to health facilities across the country to assess conditions and demand accountability—a practice he has upheld since his time as a ranking member on the Health Committee of Parliament.
Story by: Osman Issah Abadoo
