Accra: Awerco Construction Limited, the contractor responsible for the Weija-Gbawe Children's Hospital, has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Ministry of Health, demanding a retraction of what it terms as false and defamatory statements made in a recent press release. The company has threatened to take legal action if the Ministry does not comply with the demand.
According to Ghana Web, the dispute arose after the Ministry of Health alleged procurement irregularities and unresolved contractual issues as reasons for the delay in commissioning the hospital. Awerco Construction Limited, through a letter from its lawyers dated May 8, 2026, has called for the withdrawal of the contested sections of the statement, insisting that the Ministry's allegations unfairly blame the company for the delay and serve to divert public attention from the true causes.
The Ministry of Health had claimed that the World Bank identified 'misprocurement' issues, citing that some medical equipment prices were inflated up to 11 times their actual cost, which led to withheld payments. Awerco has categorically denied these allegations, stating that it was never formally informed of such concerns and would have clarified equipment pricing if given the chance. The company emphasized that it has been inaccurately depicted as obstructing the commissioning of the hospital.
Awerco further explained that it only highlighted the Ministry's attention to necessary contractual handover procedures and the lack of critical protective systems, such as Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units and Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR), which are essential for safeguarding sensitive medical equipment. The company warned that operating the hospital without these systems could result in equipment damage and compromise patient safety.
The contractor also pointed out that the Ministry has failed to settle outstanding payments, despite repeated requests over the past year, which has delayed mandatory end-user training for hospital staff. Awerco argued that the absence of such training poses a risk to both the project and potential patients, as critical medical equipment may not be operated correctly.
Awerco questioned the rationale behind the Ministry's urgency to operationalize the hospital if it truly believed that procurement prices were significantly inflated. The company insists that the Ministry's statements were misleading and aimed at deflecting attention from the actual reasons for the delayed opening of the much-anticipated children's hospital.