The Ghana Health Service (GHS) Council on Monday stormed the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa, confronting a string of crippling challenges, including a persistent power crisis that has been damaging critical equipment and draining the facility’s finances.
The visit, which took place on November 24, 2025, aimed to deepen the Council’s appreciation of the hospital’s operations, challenges, and future prospects.
During a closed-door meeting, Acting Medical Director Dr. Philip K. K. Baabiineh told the high-level delegation that unstable electricity supply had become the hospital’s most destructive setback.
“The facility’s unstable power supply continues to destroy costly medical equipment while forcing us to rely heavily on generators,” he said, adding that fuel costs were escalating beyond the hospital’s capacity.
Dr. Baabiineh also outlined four urgent concerns: severe human resource shortages, inadequate vehicles to support consultant movements between Wa and Tamale, the absence of seed money since the hospital was commissioned, and the need for an oncology unit to improve early cancer detection and treatment.
Newly appointed GHS Council member and Regional Patron Dr. Issahaque Munawaru, assured management that their concerns would not be overlooked.
“The issues raised are legitimate and will receive strategic national consideration,” he said.
The Council, accompanied by the hospital’s leadership, toured the OPD, wards, and several key departments to assess daily operations. The visit later transitioned into a staff durbar where unit heads and departmental heads voiced additional concerns.
Among them were long waiting periods for promotions especially for staff transferred from other districts, limited study-leave quotas for enrolled nurses, and calls for personal tax relief as motivation.
The Regional Director acknowledged the concerns and praised the staff for their professionalism, referencing a recent patient testimonial that commended the facility’s quality of care.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
