Weija Children's Hospital: Dr Ayew dismisses procurement concerns as 'unconvincing excuse'

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, has strongly criticised the government over its continued failure to operationalise the Weija Children’s Hospital, describing the reasons advanced for the delay as unconvincing and unjustifiable.

Speaking to selected journalists on the sidelines of Parliament, Dr Afriye rejected the government's explanation that procurement-related concerns were responsible for the hospital's delayed opening, insisting that all procurement processes associated with the project were duly approved and executed in accordance with Ghanaian law.

According to him, the facility was originally designed as a 40-bed hospital but subsequently upgraded to a state-of-the-art 120-bed children’s hospital through approved project variations, including the acquisition of additional medical equipment to enhance service delivery.

He explained that the project was initiated under the previous NPP administration and funded through the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) as part of a post-COVID legacy programme intended to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure.

“The Weija Children’s Hospital was selected to serve as a first-class referral facility for child healthcare in the southern sector of the country. This was a strategic post-COVID investment aimed at leaving a lasting healthcare legacy,” he stated.

Dr Afriye further argued that the World Bank was fully aware of and involved in every stage of the project's evolution from a 40-bed to a 120-bed facility, noting that all enhancement requests received the necessary approvals from stakeholders throughout the implementation process.

He acknowledged that concerns had been raised regarding the procurement of certain specialised equipment, particularly a 128-slice CT scanner, which the World Bank reportedly considered overpriced.

However, he maintained that the procurement process had undergone all the required regulatory scrutiny, including approval by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), and had culminated in legally binding contracts between the Ministry of Health and the contractor.

“If there are concerns about procurement, then the criticism should be directed at the procurement process itself and the institutions mandated to oversee it, not at the contractor who executed the contract in accordance with approved procedures,” he said.

Afriye revealed that authorities had requested the World Bank to provide alternative quotations for a CT scanner of the same quality and specifications if they believed the quoted price was excessive. According to him, no such comparative invoice was provided.

“You cannot simply allege overpricing without evidence. Claims of inflated costs must be substantiated with facts and documentation,” he stressed.

He noted that the disputed amount of approximately US$3.8 million covered not only the CT scanner but also other specialised equipment. In addition, he said, the contractor had undertaken additional works, including the installation of a power generation system, which was not part of the original project scope.

“At this stage, the facility is fully completed, equipped and ready for use.

The expectation of Ghanaians is simple: they want the hospital opened and serving patients,” he concluded.