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Construction Firm Threatens Legal Action Against Health Ministry Over Hospital Delay Claims
Awerco Construction Limited has threatened to sue Ghana’s Ministry of Health over allegations of procurement irregularities and project delays at the Weija-Gbawe Children’s Hospital. The construction firm demands an immediate retraction of a ministry press statement that it claims unfairly portrays the company as responsible for delays in making the facility operational.
In a strongly worded letter dated May 8, 2026, Awerco’s legal representatives accused the ministry of publishing “inaccuracies and misrepresentations” that could potentially damage the company’s reputation and business prospects. The dispute centers on a May 5 ministry press release titled “Operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital,” which reportedly alleged that medical equipment prices were inflated by up to 11 times their actual cost.
Awerco vehemently denies these allegations, describing them as baseless and noting that the ministry has failed to provide evidence supporting such claims. “Our Client has been wrongly portrayed as being responsible for the Ministry’s inability to commission and operationalise the Weija Paediatric Hospital,” the company’s lawyers stated.
The controversy highlights growing tensions in Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure development sector, where public-private partnerships have increasingly come under scrutiny for cost overruns and delays. The Weija-Gbawe Children’s Hospital project represents a significant investment in pediatric healthcare for the Greater Accra region, which has long faced shortages in specialized medical facilities for children.
According to Awerco, the company has met all contractual obligations for the project. The firm claims it has repeatedly contacted the ministry over the past year regarding outstanding payments but has received no response. This payment dispute appears to be a central factor in the delayed commissioning of the hospital.
The construction firm specifically contested the ministry’s assertion that Awerco halted the commissioning process. “Contrary to the impression created by your press release, our Client never stated in its letter that it had halted the process of commissioning of the facility,” the letter clarified.
Instead, Awerco maintains its correspondence merely emphasized proper contractual handover procedures and the necessity of critical protective systems for sensitive medical equipment. The company highlighted the importance of installing uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units and automatic voltage regulators to protect sophisticated medical devices from Ghana’s sometimes unstable electrical grid.
The firm warned that without these protective measures, expensive medical equipment could suffer damage, potentially disrupting hospital operations and endangering patient care. Awerco also pointed to delays in mandatory end-user training for hospital staff, which it claims have been caused by the ministry’s failure to settle outstanding payments.
“Failure to undertake such training poses an additional risk to the project and to potential patients, as critical medical equipment may not be operated properly,” Awerco’s lawyers emphasized in their letter.
The construction company also raised logical concerns about the ministry’s position, questioning why health officials would seek to operationalize a facility if they genuinely believed procurement prices had been grossly inflated.
Awerco has given the Ministry of Health a 24-hour ultimatum to retract the contested portions of its statement, threatening to pursue all available legal remedies if the ministry fails to comply.
This dispute comes amid broader concerns about healthcare infrastructure development in Ghana, where several hospital projects have faced delays and cost overruns in recent years. The Weija-Gbawe facility is expected to significantly improve pediatric healthcare access in the region when finally operational.
Neither the Ministry of Health nor the World Bank, which was mentioned in connection with raising concerns about the project, has publicly responded to Awerco’s demands as of press time.
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8 Comments
This seems like a complex situation with allegations on both sides. I’m curious to learn more about the specifics of the procurement and construction issues that led to the hospital delays. A transparent investigation would help clarify the facts and determine accountability.
You raise a good point. It’s important that all parties cooperate fully to uncover the truth and resolve this dispute fairly.
This dispute highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public procurement. While the allegations are serious, the ministry needs to back them up with clear evidence if they want to maintain public trust.
Well said. Public-private partnerships require a delicate balance of oversight and cooperation. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail here.
The construction firm’s threat of legal action is an aggressive move, but they may have a point if the ministry’s allegations are not backed by solid evidence. A balanced, fact-based approach would serve the public’s interest better than public posturing.
I agree. Resorting to the courts should be a last resort. The ministry and construction firm should first attempt to resolve this through open and constructive dialogue.
The hospital project is clearly facing some major challenges. I’m curious to know more about the procurement and tendering processes involved. Improving those systems could help avoid similar disputes in the future.
Delays in completing public infrastructure projects are unfortunately all too common. I hope both sides can come together, identify the root causes, and find a mutually acceptable solution that gets the hospital operational as soon as possible.