A legal dispute has emerged between the Ministry of Health, Ghana and Awerco Construction Limited over the delayed operationalisation of the Weija Paediatric Hospital.
Lawyers for Awerco Construction have demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the Ministry over a recent press release concerning the hospital project, arguing that the company was unfairly blamed for delays in commissioning the facility.
In a letter dated May 8, 2026, legal representatives from A.E.K Kodjoe & Associates accused the Ministry of publishing “false and misleading” claims that allegedly damaged the company’s reputation.
Dispute Over Procurement Allegations
The disagreement stems from an earlier Ministry statement, signed by spokesperson Tony Goodman, which reportedly referenced concerns raised by the World Bank over alleged inflated medical equipment costs linked to the project.
According to Awerco Construction, the allegations are unfounded and were never formally communicated to the company.
The contractor further argued that if the Ministry genuinely believed procurement irregularities existed, it would not have attempted to proceed with commissioning the hospital for public use.
Contractor Rejects Responsibility for Delays
The company insists it completed construction works and had informed the Ministry accordingly. It claims the Ministry later acknowledged completion and expressed intentions to operationalise the facility.
However, the contractor alleges that delays stem from unresolved financial obligations and the Ministry’s failure to address technical requirements necessary for the hospital’s safe operation.
Among the issues cited were unpaid contractual obligations and the need for critical protective systems such as UPS units and Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs) to protect sensitive medical equipment.
Legal Threat Issued
Awerco Construction also disputed claims that it halted the commissioning process, stating instead that it merely outlined contractual procedures for handing over the facility.
The company accused the Ministry of attempting to shift public attention away from its own inaction and warned that the publication had harmed its business reputation.
As part of its demands, the contractor called for the withdrawal of portions of the Ministry’s statement within 24 hours and threatened legal action if the request was not met.
The letter was signed by Yaw Acquah, Head of Dispute Resolution at A.E.K Kodjoe & Associates.