Weija-Gbawe MP, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has urged authorities to free the contractor detained over the abandoned Weija Children’s Hospital project and allow work to resume, while insisting that due process must be followed.
Speaking with Channel One News, the lawmaker said he does not have all the facts around the case, but expressed concern about the arrest. He called on EOCO and other agencies to carry out their investigations fairly. He also warned that frequent changes in government should not be used as an excuse to stall key public infrastructure.
The MP stressed that health facilities must rise above politics, noting that completing the children’s hospital was a major concern for people in Weija-Gbawe and nearby areas. He clarified that his position was not to defend the contractor, but to push for the facility to be opened for public use.
“We need to find common ground and let the contractor go. This is an unfortunate situation and we must change this way of doing things. I’m not here to speak for the contractor. I’m speaking for what is right. If he has erred, let the law take its course.“ But the most important thing is that the project gets finished, because residents are waiting for this hospital,” he stated.
He further urged the appropriate bodies to work with the contractor in a way that ensures the project is completed and handed over, while any misconduct is dealt with through proper legal channels.
The MP described the entire situation as regrettable and said Ghana must change how it handles public projects, especially during government transitions. The contractor linked to the Weija Children’s Hospital project is still being held by EOCO as probes into the facility continue. The Weija Children’s Hospital is a 120-bed specialist centre that was started to improve access to child healthcare in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality.
Although construction is done, the hospital has sat idle for years, denying residents the healthcare services it was meant to provide.
