Weija Children’s Hospital: Our claims are fact-based, not defamatory – Health Ministry

The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman, has insisted that government will not retract its claims of alleged procurement irregularities linked to the Weija Paediatric Hospital project, saying the Ministry’s position is based on facts and will be defended in court if necessary.

His comments come in response to a legal threat from Awerco Construction Limited, the contractor for the Weija-Gbawe Children’s Hospital project, which has demanded the immediate withdrawal of a Ministry of Health press statement it describes as defamatory and damaging to its reputation.

The dispute stems from a Ministry of Health release issued on May 5, 2026, titled “Operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital,” which alleged procurement irregularities, including claims that medical equipment prices were inflated by up to 11 times their actual cost.

The contractor has rejected the allegations as “unfounded,” insisting that no evidence has been provided to support the claims and arguing that it is being wrongly blamed for delays in the hospital’s commissioning.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, May 8, 2026, Tony Goodman defended the Ministry’s position, saying the public had a right to clarity on the status of the facility following concerns over its non-operation.

“The court is an institution for stating facts. Maybe you have your reason to go to the court, but not because of the fact we’ve put out there,” he said.

He explained that the Ministry issued the statement in response to public concern and protests over the delayed opening of the hospital.

“When the people went there to demonstrate, Ghanaians asked, what is the reason why are you not operating a facility? And quickly we came out to state the fact,” Goodman said.

He also questioned the contractor’s reaction to the allegations, maintaining that the Ministry was not seeking to distort the facts.

“You want to just come and use these means to do what, whitewash your inaction? We are not perturbed. The truth is that there is nothing wrong with you going to court,” he stated.