The Ministry of Health has addressed growing public concern over the prolonged closure of the Weija Children’s (Paediatric) Hospital, attributing the delay to procurement irregularities, funding disputes, and unresolved contractual issues, despite the facility’s physical completion.
The Ministry’s explanation follows escalating frustration among residents of Weija-Gbawe, who staged a protest on May 5 demanding the immediate operationalisation of the hospital. Demonstrators, dressed in red and black, described the delay as unjustifiable, arguing that the facility—reportedly completed nearly two years ago—could significantly reduce pressure on existing healthcare institutions and help prevent avoidable child mortality.
Protesters also highlighted the economic implications, noting that trained healthcare professionals remain unemployed while a fully equipped hospital remains unused.
In a press statement issued the same day, the Ministry acknowledged the concerns but cited serious procurement breaches as the central cause of the delay. The hospital, funded by the World Bank and launched in 2023, was initially scheduled for completion in December 2025. However, complications arose in 2024 when the World Bank identified irregularities in the procurement process.
According to the Ministry, these irregularities included the inflation of medical equipment costs by as much as eleven times their actual value. As a consequence, the World Bank declined to settle outstanding payments, triggering a significant funding shortfall.
Efforts by the government to proceed with commissioning the hospital have also been obstructed by a dispute with the contractor. The Ministry indicated that although it was prepared to open the facility, the contractor denied access, insisting that all outstanding contractual and financial issues be resolved beforehand. This impasse has effectively rendered the completed hospital inaccessible.
Despite these challenges, the Ministry maintains that it is actively engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the situation. It reiterated the hospital’s strategic importance, particularly in delivering specialised paediatric care, and assured the public of its commitment to ensuring the facility becomes operational.
The issue has attracted political attention, with the Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe expressing dissatisfaction over persistent delays and the absence of a clear commissioning timeline.
The Weija Children’s Hospital, a 120-bed specialist facility, was conceived as a critical addition to Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure. However, it remains in limbo as negotiations continue. In the interim, the Ministry has appealed to residents to exercise patience while efforts are made to resolve the outstanding issues and bring the facility into service.
