By Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku | Reporting for Ghanaian News Canada | May 5, 2026
A growing wave of political and public pressure is building on President John Dramani Mahama and the Health Ministry over the continued closure of a fully completed children’s hospital in the Weija-Gbawe area.
The Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has made a strong public appeal, urging government to ensure the immediate operationalisation of the specialised facility.
Speaking on a national platform, the MP expressed frustration over what he described as an unexplained delay, despite the hospital being fully equipped and ready for use. He warned that the continued closure is denying residents access to critical healthcare services and undermining the purpose of the investment.
“It’s a terrible situation… we are calling on the President and the Minister of Health to ensure that the facility is opened.”
A Fully Equipped Hospital Left Idle
According to the MP, the children’s hospital is not an incomplete project—it is a ready-to-use facility with modern infrastructure.
He revealed that the hospital includes:
- A 120-bed capacity
- CT scanner and X-ray machines
- A mother’s hostel
- Fully installed and functional medical equipment
Despite this, the facility has remained closed for nearly two years, raising serious questions about decision-making and priorities within the health sector.
The MP emphasized that leaving such a critical healthcare facility idle while communities struggle to access services is unacceptable.
Residents Take to the Streets
The political pressure is not coming from leadership alone—residents themselves have begun to act.
On the same day, citizens in Weija-Gbawe staged protests, demanding the immediate opening of the hospital. Demonstrators expressed anger that a fully completed facility remains unused while families face difficulties accessing specialised care for children.
Some residents highlighted how the delay is affecting:
- Access to paediatric healthcare
- Congestion at existing hospitals
- Employment opportunities for trained health professionals
One protester noted that graduates remain unemployed while a ready facility sits idle, describing the situation as both frustrating and unjust.
Political Concerns Over “Politicisation”
A key issue raised by the MP is the alleged politicisation of infrastructure projects. He argued that completed facilities should be put to use regardless of which administration initiated them.
“We need to save lives and move away from politics.”
This statement reflects a broader concern in Ghana’s political space—where projects are sometimes delayed due to political transitions rather than technical challenges.
The MP further revealed that he has held multiple meetings with the Health Minister but has seen little progress, describing repeated assurances without action.
A Regional, Not Just Local Issue
While the hospital is located in Weija-Gbawe, its importance goes far beyond the constituency.
According to the MP, the facility is expected to serve:
- Parts of Greater Accra
- Kasoa and surrounding communities
- Sections of the Central and Western Regions
This makes the delay a national concern, not just a local one.
Bigger Political Implications
This issue is quickly becoming more than just a health sector concern—it is turning into a political test of governance and accountability.
The situation raises key questions:
- Why is a completed hospital not operational?
- Are administrative or financial issues causing delays?
- Is politics influencing infrastructure decisions?
In a country where healthcare access remains a major challenge, the inability to operationalise a ready facility is likely to intensify public scrutiny of government performance.
Conclusion: From Infrastructure to Accountability
The Weija children’s hospital situation reflects a broader pattern in Ghana’s politics—where the focus is shifting from promises to delivery.
For many citizens, the issue is simple:
A hospital that is complete should be saving lives, not sitting idle.
As pressure mounts from both political leaders and the public, the coming days will be critical in determining whether government responds decisively or allows frustration to grow further.
