News:
July 8, 2026
Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh tells Parliament the 120-bed facility can be commissioned within 24 hours of handover, blaming outstanding contractor works for persistent delays.
The long-awaited Weija Children’s Specialist Hospital could be operational within a day of being formally handed over to the government, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has assured Parliament — but the contractor has yet to complete outstanding works and release the facility.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Mr Akandoh dismissed suggestions that the government was deliberately stalling the commissioning of the 120-bed paediatric facility, insisting that the Ministry of Health has already recruited a full complement of staff and stands ready to begin operations immediately.
“If the project was handed over this morning, within the next 24 hours, we won’t even need any fanfare — we will commission it because we have a full complement of staff for that facility,” the Minister told Parliament.
“There are issues, but we’re not relenting on them. Whatever it takes, we’ll resolve the issues for the facility’s operationalisation.”
Project Background and Delays
The Weija Children’s Specialist Hospital, located in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, was originally conceived as a 40-bed facility but was later upgraded to a 120-bed, state-of-the-art children’s hospital. It is a World Bank-funded project that commenced in 2023 and was initially expected to be completed by December 2025. Once operational, it is set to become the largest children’s hospital in Ghana, designed to serve as a major referral centre for paediatric care in the southern sector of the country.
However, the project hit significant setbacks in 2024 when the World Bank raised concerns about “misprocurement” — including allegations that medical equipment costs were inflated by up to 11 times their actual market value. As a result, the World Bank declined to settle outstanding payments, leading to a standoff with the contractor.
Who Is to Blame?
According to Mr Akandoh, who inherited the project, the contractor has yet to officially hand over the facility because critical works — including the installation of certain medical equipment — remain incomplete. The contractor, identified as Awerco Construction Ltd, has reportedly refused to grant access to the hospital until all outstanding issues are fully resolved.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry has held several engagements with the contractor and has scheduled a final meeting for July 10, 2026. The contractor, currently outside the country, requested to be present in person to conclude discussions.
Growing Public Pressure
The delays have sparked frustration among residents of Weija-Gbawe. In May 2026, community members staged protests demanding the immediate opening of the facility, which they say has remained unused since its completion in 2024 or early 2025. Some residents have expressed concern that the continued closure is limiting access to quality healthcare for children and contributing to preventable deaths.
The Minority in Parliament has also urged the Ministry to operationalise the hospital without further delay, arguing that there is no justification for keeping the fully furnished facility idle.
The Weija Children’s Specialist Hospital is equipped with a neonatal intensive care unit, a paediatric intensive care unit, a 120-bed ward, emergency services, and a mother’s hostel to support caregivers. Its operationalisation is expected to significantly ease congestion at existing health facilities in the Greater Accra Region and improve outcomes for critically ill children.
Ghanamps.com