The World Bank has urged the Government of Ghana to fast-track the operationalisation and opening of the Weija Paediatric Hospital, stressing that the facility was built to strengthen healthcare delivery for children across the country.
According to the Bank, the 120-bed specialised paediatric hospital located at Weija was constructed and equipped under the World Bank-funded COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project at a total cost of US$10.15 million.
Responding to questions regarding the status of the facility, the World Bank said it remained “strongly desirous” of seeing the hospital opened to the public as soon as possible so Ghanaians can benefit from the investment made under the project.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 25, the Bank explained that although the project officially closed on December 16, 2025, following a six-month extension, several critical activities linked to the hospital remained incomplete at the time of closure.
“The Government constructed and equipped the 120-bed hospital under the World Bank COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project (P173788) at a cost of US$10.15 million,” the statement noted.
The Bank explained that the extension was granted to allow for the completion of key activities for which government had not released International Development Association (IDA) spending.
Despite the extension, the Bank said some aspects of the project were still unfinished, including the installation of certain medical equipment and the implementation of environmental and social safety measures required under the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework for health facilities.
The statement further clarified that the Government of Ghana could still use undisbursed IDA funds under the project to settle outstanding eligible obligations until June 16, 2025.
However, the World Bank stressed that responsibility for completing all remaining environmental and social safeguard obligations now lies solely with the government.
“Government is responsible for providing its own resources to complete the outstanding environmental and social safeguard obligations under the project and to settle any obligations it has incurred for expenditures ineligible for IDA financing,” the statement said.
The Bank also emphasised that beyond infrastructure completion, the hospital cannot become fully operational until the government deploys the required medical and administrative staff to the facility.
“To fully operationalise the hospital, the Government will need to complete these necessary actions and assign staff to the facility,” it added.
The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Ghanaian authorities to ensure the hospital is opened to serve the public without further delays.
The Weija Paediatric Hospital was conceived as part of Ghana’s broader effort to strengthen emergency healthcare infrastructure during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on specialised child healthcare services.
Health sector observers say the commissioning of the facility could significantly reduce pressure on existing paediatric hospitals and referral centres in the Greater Accra Region, where congestion remains a major challenge.
The World Bank also addressed procurement compliance issues under its funded projects, explaining that borrowing countries are required to follow strict procurement regulations aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and value for money.
It noted that where procurement reviews reveal breaches of established procedures, the Bank reserves the right to declare affected contracts ineligible for IDA financing.
“Under IDA loan agreements, borrowers must follow the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations aimed at ensuring transparency and value for money. Where a post-procurement review finds that the Regulations have not been followed, the World Bank exercises remedies,” the statement added.
Although such procurement reviews are not publicly disclosed, the Bank said interested parties may seek information through the appropriate national channels within the borrowing country.
The development comes amid growing public interest in the status of the Weija Paediatric Hospital project, with stakeholders calling for its immediate completion and commissioning to improve access to child healthcare services in Ghana.