The contractor behind the long-delayed Weija Children’s Hospital has been taken into the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) following a meeting with the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, over the stalled commissioning of the facility.
The meeting, held on Friday, July 10, focused on efforts by the government to secure the completion and handover of the specialist children’s hospital, which has remained idle despite the main construction works having been completed.
According to sources, government officials appealed to the contractor to release the facility to enable authorities to operationalise the hospital and begin delivering much-needed paediatric healthcare services to residents.
The contractor, however, reportedly maintained that he could not hand over the project until the outstanding balance on the contract had been settled or government provided clear guarantees regarding the payment of the remaining amount owed.
Sources also indicated that the contractor insisted that unresolved financial obligations prevented him from relinquishing control of the hospital.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, officials of EOCO reportedly escorted the contractor to the agency’s headquarters. The circumstances leading to the action have not been officially explained, and EOCO is yet to issue a statement on the development.
The Ministry of Health has also not publicly commented on the incident.
The Weija Children’s Hospital has remained a major concern for residents and healthcare stakeholders after staying closed for more than two years despite the completion of its physical infrastructure.
The 120-bed specialist facility, located in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality, was designed to strengthen paediatric healthcare delivery by providing specialised medical services for newborns, children and adolescents. The hospital is also expected to ease pressure on referral centres such as the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital.
The facility is equipped with modern operating theatres, intensive care units, outpatient departments and dedicated wards intended to improve healthcare access for children across the area.
However, disagreements over outstanding payments, unresolved contractual issues and pending ancillary works have delayed the commissioning of the hospital, preventing it from serving the public and drawing increasing criticism from health experts and residents who have called for its immediate operationalisation.
