The Ministry of Health has assured that the long-awaited Children’s Specialist Hospital at McCarthy Junction in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region will be commissioned and made operational within the next two to three weeks.
Speaking on Starr FM’s Morning Show, Morning Starr on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman, explained that the delay in opening the facility was due to complex contractual and funding disagreements involving the World Bank and the project contractor.
“Based on the commitment we’ve seen in the last 24 hours, we can assure the people of this country that within two to three weeks, we should be able to commission this facility,” he told host, Naa Deede Tettey.
Tony Goodman made the comment while commenting on a demonstration embarked upon by some residents of Weija who demanded the immediate commissioning and operationalization of the pediatric facility.
READ: Weija Paediatric Hospital project stalled over World Bank funding concerns — Health Ministry
He revealed that although the building and equipment were largely ready for testing as early as late 2024, the World Bank – the primary funding body – raised concerns over “mis procurement.”
According to him, auditors flagged medical equipment prices which according to him were inflated up to 11 times the market value.
“The terms of the contract state that payment will be made by a third party, which is the World Bank. When the last certificate was issued, the World Bank refused to pay, citing prices way above the market price,” Goodman explained.
This dispute, he continued, has led to a standoff with the contractor refusing to hand over the keys to the facility until payment or a clear commitment was made.
He further narrated that this problem contributed to the halting of an earlier attempt to commission facility in early 2026.
The 120-bed specialist hospital which is aimed at reducing the pressure on existing pediatric wards in the Greater Accra Region is also seen as a critical addition to Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.
Tony Goodman further urged the Member of Parliament (MP) for Weija, Jerry Ahmed Shaibu and residents to exercise restraint cautioning them to further exercise restraints as government is working to operationalize the Pediatric Hospital.
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“This isn’t a banana republic. If you force your way in and the equipment develops a fault tomorrow, you cannot hold the contractor responsible. We must use dialogue to reach an amicable resolution”, he cautioned.
He confirmed that intensive meetings between the Ministry, the World Bank, and the contractor are currently ongoing. He expressed high confidence that these stakeholders are now aligned on the importance of the facility.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
