The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has reportedly detained the contractor in charge of building the Weija Children’s Hospital after a meeting with Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, regarding delays in turning over the facility.
The contractor met with the Health Minister on Friday, July 10, to discuss the completion and formal transfer of the 120-bed specialist hospital, which has remained unoccupied despite the completion of its main structure, according to people acquainted with the situation who spoke to Class News.
Citing the increasing need for specialised paediatric healthcare services, the government reportedly pleaded with the contractor to turn over the facility so the Ministry of Health could start operations during the meeting.
But according to reports, the contractor claimed that the facility would not be turned over until all contractual obligations had been fulfilled or the government had made a clear guarantee about when the remaining amount would be paid.
The contractor insisted that before the project could be formally passed to the Ministry, the outstanding financial commitments had to be settled, according to sources.
The contractor was allegedly arrested by EOCO officers shortly after the meeting and taken to the organization’s headquarters.
The reasons underlying the arrest have not been explained in an official announcement from EOCO or the Ministry of Health.
Despite the completion of the main structure, the Weija Children’s Hospital has been shuttered for over two years.
Residents and health advocates have repeatedly called for the hospital to be opened to the public, but the delay has been mostly attributed to unresolved contractual and administrative concerns, including disagreements over unpaid bills and the completion of remaining work.
Source: newsthemegh.com