The Ministry of Health has cited procurement irregularities, funding setbacks, and unresolved contractual disputes as key reasons the fully completed Weija Children’s Hospital remains non-operational.
The explanation follows escalating public anger, including a protest by residents of Weija-Gbawe on May 5, where demonstrators demanded the immediate opening of the hospital to address urgent gaps in paediatric healthcare.
Clad in red and black, residents took to the streets in frustration, describing the delay as unacceptable. Many argue that the children’s hospital—reportedly completed nearly two years ago—could significantly reduce pressure on existing facilities and help prevent avoidable child deaths.
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Protesters also raised concerns about lost economic opportunities, pointing out that trained health professionals remain unemployed while a fully equipped hospital sits unused.
In a press statement, the Ministry revealed that the project, funded by the World Bank and launched in 2023, ran into serious challenges in 2024 after procurement breaches were detected.
According to the Ministry, the World Bank flagged “misprocurement,” including instances where medical equipment costs were inflated by up to 11 times their actual value.
The fallout was immediate and severe.
“As a result, the World Bank declined to settle all the outstanding payments,” the statement noted, triggering a major funding crisis that stalled progress toward commissioning the facility.
Efforts by the government to operationalise the hospital have also been frustrated by a standoff with the contractor.
The Ministry disclosed that although it was ready to commission the facility, the contractor denied access, insisting that all outstanding financial and contractual issues be resolved first.
“The contractor subsequently halted this process… insisting that all outstanding issues be fully resolved before granting access,” the Ministry explained.
This impasse has effectively locked authorities out of a completed hospital, leaving it idle despite urgent healthcare needs.
Despite the challenges, the Ministry insists it is actively engaging stakeholders to break the deadlock and bring the children’s hospital into use.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the people of Ghana that it is actively engaging all stakeholders to resolve the matter in the best interest of the public,” the statement said.
It also acknowledged the hospital’s critical role in delivering specialised care for children, particularly in easing the burden on overstretched facilities in Accra.
The issue has drawn political attention, with the Weija-Gbawe MP expressing frustration over delays and the absence of a clear commissioning timeline.
Residents and local leaders maintain that the 120-bed specialist hospital is fully equipped and ready for use, further intensifying calls for immediate action.
For now, the Ministry is urging calm, appealing to residents to remain patient as efforts continue to resolve the crisis.