The Ministry of Health has attributed the delay in the operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital to procurement-related concerns raised by the World Bank and subsequent disagreements with the contractor.
This follows demonstration by residents at the facility on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 over delay in commissioning the project.
The Ministry in a statement clarified that the hospital is a World Bank-funded project that began in 2023 and was expected to be completed by December 2025.
However, the Ministry explained that challenges emerged in 2024 after the World Bank raised concerns over alleged misprocurement.
It stated, “The World Bank raised concerns about misprocurement, which included inflated costs of medical equipment up to about 11 times the actual price.”
Following those concerns, the Ministry said the World Bank declined to release outstanding payments linked to the project.
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The statement added that although government had engaged stakeholders and was prepared to commission the facility, the contractor later halted the process.
“The contractor subsequently halted this process, insisting that all outstanding issues be fully resolved before granting access to the hospital,” the Ministry noted.
Despite the setback, the Ministry assured the public that efforts were ongoing to resolve the matter and bring the facility into operation.
“The Ministry wishes to assure the people of Ghana that it is actively engaging all stakeholders to resolve the matter in the best interest of the public,” it said.
It further stressed the importance of the hospital in Ghana’s healthcare system, particularly in providing specialised paediatric care.
“We wish to assure the general public that the Ministry of Health is committed to working assiduously to ensure the full operationalisation of the Paediatric Hospital,” the statement added.
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The Ministry also appealed for patience from residents of Weija and the general public as discussions continue to resolve the issues delaying the project.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
