Dozens of residents of Weija in the Ga South Municipality on Tuesday, 5th May, 2026 staged a peaceful protest to demand the immediate commissioning of the 120-bed Children’s Specialist Hospital, which has remained unused since its completion in 2025. Clad in red bands and holding placards with inscriptions like “Open Our Children’s Hospital Now” and “Weija Kids Deserve Healthcare,” the protesters marched from Tetegu to the hospital premises at Weija Junction.
Facility Lying Idle
The hospital, funded under a government health infrastructure project, was completed and handed over in late 2025 but is yet to be operationalized. The ultra-modern facility is designed to serve as a referral centre for pediatric care in western Accra and the Central Region.“Our children are dying from preventable conditions because we have to rush them to Korle Bu or Ridge. Yet this hospital is locked and gathering dust,” said Madam Abena Serwaa, a mother and lead organizer of the protest.Residents say the situation has forced them to rely on overcrowded facilities miles away, with emergency cases often turning fatal due to travel time.
Demands
The group presented a petition to the Ga South Municipal Assembly, demanding: Immediate commissioning of the hospital within 30 days. Deployment of staff and equipment to make the facility functional. Clear timelines from the Ministry of Health on opening. “We are not asking for too much. A hospital is built to save lives, not to be a monument,” said Assembly Member for Weija East, Hon. Kwame Agbogah.
Official Response
Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Joseph Nyarni Stephen, who received the petition, assured residents that their concerns would be forwarded to the Health Ministry. “We understand your frustration. The Assembly is equally concerned. We will engage Accra for answers,” he said. Sources at the Ministry of Health say delays stem from procurement of specialized equipment and staff postings but could not give a firm opening date.
Background
The Weija Children’s Specialist Hospital is part of government’s Agenda 111 and other health projects aimed at bridging pediatric care gaps. Child health advocates say western Accra records high infant mortality due to limited access to specialist care.
By: Stella Snel
