The Ministry of Health is prepared to operationalize the 120-bed Weija Children’s Specialist Hospital within 24 hours of receiving the keys, though outstanding contractor works continue to stall the opening.
Appearing before Parliament, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh explained that despite the hospital being fully staffed and equipped, the contractor has yet to conclude the remaining structural works and medical equipment installations required for an official handover.
According to the Minister, the World Bank-funded project was previously derailed by procurement irregularities discovered midway through construction. Although the Ministry successfully navigated those challenges, the final phase has hit a standstill. A crucial meeting aimed at resolving the impasse is slated for July 10, when the contractor is expected back in the country.
Akandoh pushed back against claims of deliberate government delays, noting that Ghana Health Service inspection data proves portions of the structure remain physically incomplete.
With paediatric staff already assigned and on standby, the Minister emphasized that the facility will bypass a traditional, lengthy commissioning ceremony to begin treating patients the moment the contractor signs off.
The delay has been a source of growing friction in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality. In May, frustrated residents staged a public demonstration demanding access to the facility, which is expected to drastically scale up specialist paediatric care and relieve overstretched regional hospitals.
Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
