The World Bank has put intense pressure on the Government of Ghana to immediately open the newly built Weija-Gbawe Children’s Specialist Hospital, revealing that the $10.15 million facility remains locked due to unfinished safety protocols and a lack of staff.
In an official statement responding to inquiries from Rainbowradioonline.com, the international lender expressed a “strong desire” to see the 120-bed paediatric facility operationalised without further delay.
The hospital was constructed and fully funded under the World Bank’s COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project to bolster healthcare for children.
However, despite the project officially wrapping up in December 2025, the state-of-the-art facility has yet to treat a single patient.
According to the bank, the delay hinges on critical loose ends that the government failed to tie up, even after being granted a six-month grace period.
“The Project closed on December 16, 2025, following a 6-month extension to allow for the completion of key activities for which Government had not released IDA [International Development Association] spending,” the World Bank stated.
The lender disclosed that when the project deadline expired, several vital tasks were left abandoned. These included “the installation of some equipment and the implementation of selected safety measures required by the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework for health facilities.”
While the government has until mid-2026 to clear outstanding bills for eligible activities using remaining project funds, the financial burden of finishing the safety upgrades now falls squarely on Ghanaian taxpayers.
“Government is responsible for providing its own resources to complete the outstanding environmental and social safeguard obligations under the project,” the statement clarified, adding that ministers must also “settle any obligations it has incurred for expenditures ineligible for IDA financing.”
Beyond the physical infrastructure, the bank pointed out a basic administrative hurdle holding the facility back: it currently has no workers.
“To fully operationalize the hospital, the Government will need to complete these necessary actions and assign staff to the facility,” the bank noted, confirming that it “remains engaged to encourage the Government to operationalize and open the facility.”
Procurement Questions
The situation has also thrown a spotlight on accountability and how contracts for the project were managed. The World Bank reiterated that all borrowers using IDA loans are legally bound to strict procurement regulations designed to ensure transparency and value for money.
Hinting at the consequences of any potential breaches, the bank warned that it aggressively enforces these rules behind closed doors.
“Where a post procurement review finds that the Regulations have not been followed, the World Bank exercises remedies. These may include declaring a contract ineligible for financing by IDA,” the lender warned.
However, those looking for specific answers regarding compliance at the Weija-Gbawe facility may face a hurdle. The bank noted that its internal reviews “are not publicly disclosed,” suggesting that the public and journalists will have to rely on local accountability laws to dig deeper.
“Third parties may seek information through national channels in the borrowing country,” the statement concluded.
The Ministry of Health has yet to announce an official opening date for the paediatric hospital or address how it intends to fund the remaining safeguard measures.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
