Weija Gbawe residents protest delay in opening completed specialist children’s hospital

Residents of Weija Gbawe in the Greater Accra Region have taken to the streets in protest over the continued closure of a fully completed Children’s Specialist Hospital, demanding its immediate operationalisation.

The demonstrators, clad in red and black, marched on Tuesday, May 2, carrying placards and voicing frustration over what they describe as an unjustified delay in opening the facility, which has reportedly been completed for about two years.

According to the protesters, the situation is worsening access to quality healthcare for children in the area. They argue that nearby hospitals are overwhelmed, forcing families to endure long travel times and heavy traffic in search of specialised paediatric care—circumstances they say have, in some cases, contributed to preventable deaths.

Residents also raised concerns about missed employment opportunities, particularly for trained health professionals who remain jobless while a fully equipped facility sits idle.

One protester, a pharmacy graduate, told JoyNews that the hospital’s continued closure is both frustrating and discouraging. “I’m here because I want this facility to be opened. I studied pharmacy, and now I’m home without work. This hospital can provide jobs and help us serve patients,” the protester said.

Another resident highlighted the difficulties families face when seeking urgent medical care for children. “The traffic alone can delay access to treatment. Our children are suffering, and we are pleading with the government to act,” the resident added.

Some protesters insisted the hospital is fully ready for use, noting that the infrastructure and medical equipment are already in place. They questioned why such a critical facility remains unused despite the growing healthcare demands in the community.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, also expressed concern, describing the delay as unacceptable. He revealed that the 120-bed hospital is fully equipped with modern facilities, including a CT scanner, laboratories, three operating theatres, and a mother’s hostel.

“I feel very sad about the situation. We are even spending money to maintain equipment like the CT scanner while the facility remains closed. Meanwhile, lives are being lost,” he said.

Mr. Shaib further recounted witnessing overcrowding in nearby hospitals, where patients are sometimes forced to receive treatment under inadequate conditions due to a lack of beds.

“This is a fully completed facility with everything in place. There is no justification for it not being operational,” he stressed.

He also cautioned against politicising the commissioning of the hospital, urging authorities to prioritise healthcare delivery over partisan considerations.

Residents are calling on government to urgently commission and operationalise the Children’s Specialist Hospital to reduce pressure on existing health facilities and improve access to specialised care for children in the municipality.