Members of Parliament on the Minority side are demanding the immediate opening of the 120-bed Weija Paediatric Hospital. They state that the Ministry of Health is using a weak excuse to keep the facility closed. This delay stops children from receiving professional healthcare.
The hospital is fully equipped and ready to operate. The contractor followed all the necessary steps to buy and install the equipment. These processes were approved by the Public Procurement Authority, the World Bank, and other international bodies. The World Bank itself is a sponsor of this GHS 60 million project, which cost $10.15 million. The Minority believes that concerns about over-pricing or procurement errors are not a valid reason for continued closure.
Ghana's health sector often faces challenges with equipment and facility management. This hospital was intended to be a significant addition, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a New Patriotic Party government initiative. The World Bank provided funding as part of post-COVID allocations. The hospital was planned as a legacy project to help the country recover. Its expansion from 40 to 120 beds required careful planning and procurement at each stage.
Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, spoke at a press conference. He stated that the Ministry of Health should have thoroughly checked any issues before closing the hospital. "It is no news to bring to overpricing to the public," he said. He noted that the World Bank has publicly urged the opening of the facility. He also added that problems with procurement, if any, lie with regulatory bodies like the Public Procurement Authority. The Ministry of Health has not provided alternative price quotations for the equipment, including the CT scan.
The continued closure of the Weija Paediatric Hospital has significant implications. It deprives thousands of children in the southern sector of specialized care. It also means many unemployed nurses and laboratory physicians cannot find jobs. The Minority calls for evidence if the government believes prices are too high. They suggest the government would have to cover any price differences if the equipment was procured correctly. The Ministry of Health has previously cited procurement irregularities and payment disputes for these delays.