*Minority Calls for Immediate Opening of Weija Children’s Hospital, Dismisses Procurement Claims*
The minority caucus in parliament has demanded the immediate opening of the Weija Children’s Hospital, arguing there is “no further reason for delays” and accusing the government of using procurement disputes as an excuse.
Speaking at a press conference on May 28, 2026, the member of parliament for Effiduase- Asokore Nana Ayew Afriyie said the 120-bed facility in the Weija catchment area is ready for use and should be operational to serve the local population and create jobs for unemployed youth, nurses, and lab physicians.
From 40 to 120 beds with World Bank funding
The hospital was originally a 40-bed facility but was expanded to 120 beds under an NPP government initiative.
According to the minority, the project was funded through IDA financing as part of post-COVID allocations from the World Bank.
The goal was to leave a “legacy from COVID” by establishing a befitting children’s hospital for the southern sector.
The Ranking member on Health said the World Bank was aware at every stage that the project had been enhanced from 40 to 120 beds, and stakeholders approved the upgrade step by step.
Mr Ayew Afriyie said the Ministry of Health and the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approved the process and signed a contract with the contractor.
After a post-procurement conference, the World Bank raised concerns that the CT scan was “highly priced.”
The government was asked to provide an alternative invoice for a CT scan of the same quality and brand, but it was unable to do so. he lamented.
“The equipment package, including the CT scan, is worth $3.8 million,” “If you say it’s overpriced, bring evidence.
Overpriced is not supposed to be very bad. Worst case scenario, the government would have to take care of it.” he added.
He further explained that the contractor had already installed the items and added power darts across the facility, which were not in the original scope, as part of the upgrade.
The minority dismissed claims of mis-procurement, saying the process went through the PPA and that attacking procurement amounted to attacking the country’s procurement authority.
“This flimsy excuse of over- or mis-procurement should not be used now. It’s totally unnecessary,” the spokesperson said.
“The Ministry of Health should have done its due diligence to have gotten to the point that this is no news to bring to the public.”
He noted that the World Bank had already issued a statement ahead of the government saying the hospital should be opened, and that “nobody is talking about the mis-procurement now.”
The minority urged the Minister of Health to open the hospital immediately, saying “the good people of this country want the Weija Children’s Hospital to open.”
Report by PKB
