Former Deputy Health Minister, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has blasted the detention of the Weija Children’s Hospital contractor, saying it will do nothing to break the deadlock keeping the facility shut.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, July 10, which was monitored by Ghanaianradar, he called the action by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) misguided, arguing that discussion, not arrests, was needed to settle the contract disagreement.
He noted that the contractor has repeatedly said the facility remains closed because government still owes money and that talks were the best route to resolve it. “I believe this is a wrong step by government. We are aware of the issue. Based on what the contractor has said, unpaid debts are the reason the hospital isn’t operating. A roundtable to agree on a permanent fix would have served us better,” he stated.
Mr. Acquah also questioned EOCO’s motive, saying the details behind the detention are hazy and could damage attempts to get the project running. “When you invite a contractor for a meeting with the promise of resolving the standoff, only to have him picked up, that is not how to handle the matter,” he stressed.
His remarks came after EOCO officials took the contractor into custody following a meeting with the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on Friday, July 10, about the stalled opening of the Weija Children’s Hospital.
The meeting was meant to push for the finalisation and transfer of the facility, which is built but has not been put to use. According to sources, government officials at the meeting urged the contractor to release the hospital for public use because of the pressing need for specialised child health services.
The contractor however refused, saying he would only hand over once the balance on the contract was paid or government gave firm commitments on when it would be cleared. The Weija Children’s Hospital has drawn public criticism after sitting idle for over two years despite construction being done.
The 120-bed specialist hospital, located in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality, was meant to improve access to paediatric care and reduce strain on major referral hospitals like Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital.
