Ketu North Municipal Hospital faces shutdown over energy crisis

By Edzorna Francis Mensah

The Ketu North Municipal Hospital, located in Weta, is experiencing a severe power crisis following the breakdown of its transformer. The hospital’s management is considering a complete shutdown if the Ministry of Health and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) fail to take immediate action.

According to sources, the hospital urgently requires financial support from the central government to procure a new transformer and prevent a total shutdown. The facility has been off the national grid for over a month after a thunderstorm destroyed its transformer. Currently, the hospital is operating on a generator, which is costly and has depleted its funds.

A concerned worker, speaking anonymously, said, “The hospital needs help or it may shut down or withdraw services.” The generator power plant being used is very expensive and the hospital is struggling to cope. Health delivery is affected, and services are being withdrawn, with the community standing to suffer.

The hospital, which serves as a referral center for numerous health facilities within and outside the Ketu North area, has been struggling with this energy crisis for over a month. Both the ECG and the Sector Ministry are aware of the issue, but no action has been taken.

The hospital began operations just two years ago, with President Akufo-Addo commissioning the €14.5 million, 60-bed facility on October 20, 2020, funded by the Raiffeisen Bank of Austria. The hospital is equipped with various departments including administration, outpatient and emergency services, inpatient wards for males, females, and pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery with an intensive care unit, physiotherapy, pharmacy, diagnostic services, logistics buildings, a mortuary, and staff facilities.

The situation is critical, and immediate intervention is necessary to ensure that the hospital continues to provide essential healthcare services to the community.

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