The Ministry of Health has finally broken its silence following angry residents of Weija-Gbawe who stormed the Children’s Specialist Hospital over the continued closure of the fully furnished facility.
According to the Health Ministry, the closure is due to delays in procurement irregularities, funding disputes, and unresolved contractual issues, despite the facility being physically completed.
They disclosed that the World Bank raised concerns about misprocurement, which included inflated costs of medical equipment.
In a press statement issued on May 5, the Ministry acknowledged the protest, however, attributing the delay to serious procurement breaches.
The statement revealed, “The World Bank raised concerns about misprocurement, which included inflated costs of medical equipment up to about 11 times the actual price”.
“As a result, the World Bank declined to settle all the outstanding payments.”
The Ministry disclosed that while it was “prepared to commission the facility for use,” the contractor refused access:
“The contractor subsequently halted this process, insisting that all outstanding issues be fully resolved before granting access to the hospital.”
“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.”
“The Ministry acknowledges the critical importance of the hospital… particularly in providing specialised care for children.”
“The Ministry therefore appeals to the people of Weija… to exercise patience while steps are taken to operationalise the hospital.”
The statement comes after angry residents of Weija-Gbawe have stormed the Children’s Specialist Hospital over the continued closure of the fully furnished children’s specialist hospital.
The protestors are demanding that the President commission the facility so it can begin operations.
Demonstrators were seen with placards which read, “Weija Gbawe deserves healthcare, not delays”, and “No excuses, commission the Weija Gbawe children’s hospital.”
Kwame Asante, a frustrated resident during the protest, stated, “I have entered the hospital before, when it was completed. It has everything in it,” he said. “I think we should put the NDC, NPP issue aside, it is about Weija-Gbawe. I want to plead with the health minister and the government to come and commission this project.”
“We are losing our children because when you go to the old children’s place, the place is not safe for children. But this one is, and yet it is closed, why?” he asked.
Hannah, who is a trained pharmacist and a resident of the area, stated, “I have been trained as a pharmacist for all these years, and I am home. But we have a facility here closed. If this is opened, I could be employed, and I will get work to do,” she said.
Comfort, another irate resident stated, “Two months ago, my sister’s child collapsed, and we drove here only to realise that it is still closed. So we had to go all the way to Marina Hospital, which is very far from here.
“We cannot watch these instances keep happening. We want to plead with the government to open the facility to service the children,” she said.
“We have ambulances, and every facility that is needed; it only needs to be commissioned for use.”
Also, Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, during the protest stated, “I would not have asked anyone to come and demonstrate or protest here, but they are here because they are feeling the pinch”.
“I have been to many facilities of this kind outside of the country, and I can tell you that this is far more advanced than many of those I have been to,” he added.
“So what have we done to merit this? Why are we making children die, all because we have failed to commission a hospital?”
Meanwhile, Accra-based CitiFM has shared Exclusive footage from inside the 120-bed Children’s Specialist Hospital in Weija, which has remained unused since its completion in 2025.
The prolonged delay in the Weija-Gbawe Children’s Specialist Hospital has become a concern among residents.
The 20-bed facility, which is projected as one of Ghana’s largest dedicated hospitals for children, was completed under the Akufo-Addo government two years ago.
Reports suggest the project was funded by the World Bank and developed under the Ministry of Health, designed to expand access to specialised paediatric healthcare and was constructed by Awerco Construction Ltd.
The Weija-Gbawe Children’s Specialist Hospital boost a neonatal intensive care unit, paediatric intensive care unit, a 120-bed ward, emergency services, and a mother’s hostel to support caregivers.
See the post below:
PRESS RELEASE ‼️
— Ministry of Health, Ghana (@mohgovgh) May 5, 2026
Operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital pic.twitter.com/SxuK6cBTo1