EOCO Detains Weija Hospital Contractor

Officials of Awerco Construction Detained by EOCO After Refusing to Hand Over Weija Children's Hospital

Officials of Awerco Construction Limited, the contractor behind the Weija Children's Hospital project, were detained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on July 10 following their refusal to hand over the completed hospital to the government during a meeting with Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The 120-bed specialist paediatric hospital in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality has remained unused for over two years despite its completion. The contractor insisted on outstanding payments or firm government assurances before handing over the facility, prompting EOCO intervention. This development has escalated public concern over the delayed operationalisation of a critical healthcare facility intended to serve newborns, children, and adolescents.

Key Points

Background and Incident

Officials from Awerco Construction Limited met with Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh on Friday, July 10, to discuss the long-delayed completion and handover of the Weija Children’s Hospital. The hospital project, structurally completed since late 2024 or early 2025, has yet to be commissioned and opened to the public. The government emphasized the urgent need for the facility’s operationalisation to provide specialised paediatric healthcare in the Weija-Gbawe area.

During the meeting, Awerco representatives maintained their refusal to hand over the hospital until outstanding payments under the contract were fully settled or the government provided clear assurances on payment timelines. This stance was reported as firm and non-negotiable. Shortly after the discussion, EOCO officials detained the contractor’s representatives and took them to the agency’s headquarters. Neither EOCO nor the Ministry of Health has released official statements regarding the detention or the circumstances surrounding it.

Hospital Project Details and Importance

The Weija Children’s Hospital is a 120-bed specialist facility intended to serve as a major referral center for paediatric care in the region. It was designed to alleviate pressure on existing hospitals such as Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital by providing specialised healthcare services for newborns, children, and adolescents. The hospital features modern wards, operating theatres, intensive care units, outpatient departments, a mother’s hostel, and emergency services.

Funded by the World Bank, the hospital is equipped with neonatal and paediatric intensive care units and a 100-bed ward. It represents a significant investment aimed at improving paediatric healthcare quality and access in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality and surrounding communities. The facility's inactivity has attracted widespread criticism from healthcare stakeholders, local residents, and political leaders.

Payment Disputes and Related Issues

The handover impasse is partly attributed to unresolved contractual and administrative disputes, including outstanding payments. The situation escalated after the Ministry of Health accused Awerco of procurement irregularities involving a $3.8 million World Bank contract for medical equipment. The World Bank declared misprocurement on the contract, citing pricing irregularities that ranged from three to eleven times market value for some items, leading to cancellation of funding.

Awerco has contested these allegations, stating that the World Bank never formally communicated its concerns to the company. The contractor has also threatened legal action in response to the Ministry of Health’s public accusations. These controversies have compounded delays in commissioning the hospital.

Public Reaction and Government Position

The prolonged delay in opening the Weija Children’s Hospital has drawn public discontent. Residents recently staged demonstrations demanding the hospital be operationalised without further delay. Local Member of Parliament Jerry Ahmed Shaib has also called for immediate action to open the facility.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh affirmed readiness to commission the hospital, stating to Parliament days earlier that the Ministry has a full complement of staff awaiting the handover to begin operations. Despite these assurances, the contractor’s refusal to transfer control over the hospital has kept the facility closed and its healthcare services inaccessible to the public.

As of the latest information, neither EOCO nor Awerco Construction Limited have issued statements concerning the detention or future plans. The Ministry of Health has remained publicly silent on the development.

Conclusion

The detention of Awerco Construction officials by EOCO highlights the critical impasse delaying the opening of the Weija Children’s Hospital. The refusal by the contractor to hand over the facility without payment resolution has left a vital paediatric healthcare institution unused for over two years. The situation underscores ongoing contractual and procurement challenges within public health infrastructure projects. The hospital’s operationalisation is urgently needed to expand specialised paediatric care access, reduce patient pressure on existing hospitals, and enhance health outcomes for children in the Weija-Gbawe Municipality and beyond.