Weija Gbawe Residents Demand Opening of Completed Children’s Hospital

Residents of Weija Gbawe have staged a protest over the continued closure of a fully completed 120-bed Children’s Specialist Hospital, calling on authorities to immediately commission and operationalise the facility.

The demonstration, saw scores of residents clad in red and black symbols of urgency and distress march through principal streets to register their frustration over what they described as an unjustifiable delay in opening the hospital.

According to the protesters, the facility, which was completed nearly two years ago, remains idle despite being fully equipped with modern medical infrastructure, including a CT scanner, operating theatres, and laboratories. They argue that the delay is worsening access to quality paediatric healthcare in the municipality and beyond.

Residents say the non-operational status of the hospital has placed undue pressure on nearby health facilities, forcing parents to travel long distances or endure overcrowded conditions to secure medical care for their children.

“This hospital was meant to ease the burden on families and save lives, but instead it is sitting there unused while children suffer,” one protester lamented.

Community leaders who addressed the gathering stressed that the situation was not only a health concern but also an economic setback. They noted that the hospital, once operational, would create employment opportunities for health professionals and ancillary staff within the municipality.

The protesters further called on the Ministry of Health Ghana and other relevant stakeholders to provide clear timelines for the commissioning of the facility, warning that continued inaction could trigger further demonstrations.

Health analysts have also weighed in on the issue, noting that the opening of the hospital could significantly improve specialised care for children in the Greater Accra Region, where demand for paediatric services continues to rise.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from government authorities regarding the delay in operationalising the hospital.

Residents insist they will sustain pressure until the facility is opened, emphasizing that access to healthcare is a fundamental right and not a privilege.