Accra: The World Bank is urging the government to promptly operationalise the 120-bed Weija Pediatric Hospital, highlighting that several critical activities remain incomplete despite the closure of the COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project which financed the facility.
According to Ghana Web, the hospital was constructed and equipped under the World Bank-supported project at a cost of US$10.15 million. The project officially concluded on December 16, 2025, after a six-month extension was granted to allow the government to complete outstanding activities following delays associated with the release of International Development Association (IDA) spending.
Even with the granted extension, some work remained unfinished at the time of closure, including the installation of certain medical equipment and the implementation of selected safety measures required under the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework for health facilities.
In a statement, the World Bank expressed a strong desire for the government to operationalise and open the facility promptly, emphasising the importance of completing all remaining obligations before the hospital becomes fully functional. The Bank noted that Ghana can still utilise undisbursed IDA funds under the project to settle outstanding obligations for eligible activities until June 16, 2025.
However, expenditures considered ineligible for IDA financing, along with pending environmental and social safeguard obligations, must be financed directly by the government. "To fully operationalise the hospital, the Government will need to complete these necessary actions and assign staff to the facility," the statement indicated.
This development underscores broader implementation and fiscal challenges facing Ghana's public infrastructure projects, particularly in the health sector, where financing constraints and delayed counterpart funding have hindered the completion of several facilities initiated during the pandemic period.
The operationalisation of the Weija Pediatric Hospital is anticipated to expand specialised child healthcare capacity in the Greater Accra region and alleviate pressure on existing referral facilities. The World Bank stated that it remains engaged with the government to encourage the opening of the hospital and the completion of all outstanding requirements.