The Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu VII, has demanded urgent government intervention to overhaul the Volta Regional Hospital in Hohoe, describing the facility as a “death trap” despite its elevation from a municipal to a regional hospital.
During a working visit to the hospital in Hohoe on Wednesday, March 4, the traditional ruler expressed concern that the upgrade in status has not been matched with corresponding improvements in infrastructure, logistics, and medical equipment.
According to him, although the facility now serves as a regional referral centre, several critical departments continue to operate with obsolete equipment, congested wards and overstretched facilities, conditions he said endanger both patients and health workers.
He noted that much of the hospital’s infrastructure remains unchanged from its days as a municipal hospital, raising serious concerns about its ability to cater to the growing population within the region.
Togbega Gabusu VII warned that failure to address the situation promptly could further weaken healthcare delivery and put more lives at risk. He therefore called on the government to prioritise the provision of modern medical equipment, expansion of wards, and overall infrastructure improvement to reflect its regional status.
“I know the authorities are listening to us and they will act as a matter of urgency to save lives,” he added.
However, the Administrator of the Volta Regional Hospital, Divine Akie, revealed that the facility currently operates without a dedicated surgical ward and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a situation he admitted is a major setback for a hospital of its status.
The Administrator therefore appealed for immediate support to equip the hospital with the necessary infrastructure and modern medical equipment to enable it function effectively as a regional referral centre.
”As a regional hospital, it is far behind compared to other established regional hospitals, talking about infrastructure, equipment and human resources,” he stated.
