Residents of Shama District in the Western Region are expressing frustration over the deplorable state of public health services in the area.
Despite being home to Ghana’s largest thermal power plant enclave and several manufacturing companies, the district lacks a public hospital and relies on a sole District Health Centre with no resident doctor.
The district, created in 2008, has a population of 117,224 and has seen significant growth due to the presence of industries.
However, the healthcare infrastructure has not kept pace, with only a few under-resourced Community Health Improvement Services (CHIPS) compounds and private facilities.
In 2020, President Nana Akufo-Addo cut the sod for a 100-bed district hospital, promising €32 million in funding.
However, construction has yet to begin, and residents are sceptical about the project’s viability.
The District Chief Executive has acknowledged the concerns, while the District Director of Health Services declined to comment.
Residents are calling for urgent attention to the healthcare needs of the district, citing the negative impacts of the current situation.
A resident stated, ” It was all politics, even the machines the contractor brought to the site have been removed by the contractor. I drive there all the time and realised that the road created has even enabled others to build in the area.”
