The Ministry of Health Ghana has attributed the delay in operationalising the Weija Paediatric Hospital to procurement irregularities and unresolved financial issues involving the project’s funders.
In a press release issued on May 5, the Ministry revealed that the hospital, funded by the World Bank, became entangled in controversy in 2024 after concerns were raised over alleged misprocurement. According to the statement, some medical equipment costs were reportedly inflated to as much as eleven times their actual value.
The Ministry indicated that following these findings, the World Bank declined to settle outstanding payments related to the project, creating a financial impasse that has stalled progress towards commissioning the facility.
Although government says it was prepared to operationalise the hospital, the contractor—Awerco Construction Ltd—is said to have withheld access to the facility until all outstanding issues are resolved.
The Weija Paediatric Hospital, a 120-bed specialist facility, was designed to serve as a major referral centre for child healthcare. However, despite being fully constructed and furnished, it remains non-operational, sparking public frustration and protests from residents in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality.
The Ministry has assured the public that it is engaging stakeholders to resolve the impasse and has appealed for patience as efforts continue to bring the facility into use.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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