The Ministry of Health Ghana has responded sharply to a protest led by Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, over delays in the operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital, describing aspects of the demonstration as “misinformed.”
In a statement issued on May 5, 2026, the Ministry expressed concern about the protest held at the facility and sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the delayed commissioning of the hospital.
According to the Ministry, the Weija Paediatric Hospital is a World Bank-funded project which began in 2023 and was scheduled for completion by December 2025. However, the Ministry revealed that in 2024, the World Bank flagged serious procurement breaches.
“The World Bank raised concerns about misprocurement, including inflated costs of medical equipment up to about eleven times the actual price,” the statement said.
As a result of these irregularities, the World Bank declined to settle outstanding payments related to the project, creating a major setback to its completion.
Despite these challenges, the Ministry noted that it had taken steps to commission the hospital for use. That effort, however, was halted by the contractor.
“The contractor subsequently halted this process, insisting that all outstanding issues be fully resolved before granting access to the hospital,” the Ministry explained.
The Ministry assured the public that it is actively engaging all relevant stakeholders to resolve the impasse in order to bring the facility into operation.
“We recognise the critical importance of this hospital in Ghana’s healthcare delivery system, particularly in providing specialised care for children,” the statement emphasised.
Appealing for calm, the Ministry urged residents of Weija and the general public to exercise patience.
“The Ministry of Health is committed to working assiduously to ensure the full operationalisation of the Paediatric Hospital,” it added.
The dispute highlights growing tensions over delays in key healthcare infrastructure, even as authorities insist efforts are underway to resolve the issues and deliver the much-anticipated facility to the public.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
