EOCO picks up Weija Children’s Hospital contractor
The contractor for the Weija Children’s Hospital has reportedly been taken into custody by officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after meeting with the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, over the prolonged delay in making the facility operational.
Sources familiar with the matter told Citi News that the contractor met with the Health Minister on Friday, July 10, to discuss the completion and formal handover of the hospital, which has remained unused despite the completion of its main construction works.
During the meeting, government representatives reportedly urged the contractor to hand over the facility so it could be opened to the public, citing the urgent need for specialised paediatric healthcare services in the area.
However, the contractor is said to have refused, insisting that the hospital would not be handed over until the outstanding balance under the contract had been settled or the government provided a firm commitment on when the remaining payments would be made.
According to the sources, the contractor maintained that the unresolved financial obligations prevented him from transferring the facility to the Ministry of Health.
Shortly after the meeting, EOCO officials reportedly escorted the contractor to the agency’s headquarters. The reasons for the action have not been officially disclosed, and EOCO is yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The Ministry of Health has also not publicly commented on the reported development.
The Weija Children’s Hospital has drawn public attention after remaining 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 built to expand access to paediatric healthcare and ease the burden on major referral centres such as the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital.
Designed to provide specialised care for newborns, children and adolescents, the hospital includes modern wards, operating theatres, intensive care units and outpatient services.
Although construction has been completed, the facility has yet to be commissioned due to unresolved contractual and administrative matters, including disputes over outstanding payments and the completion of ancillary works.
The prolonged delay has attracted criticism from healthcare stakeholders and residents, who argue that the hospital is urgently needed to help address increasing demand for specialised child healthcare services.
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