Promises unfulfilled: Shama district still awaits public hospital amidst rapid population growth
Residents of the Shama District in the Western Region have voiced their frustration over the inadequate public health services in the area.
Despite hosting Ghana’s largest thermal power plant and numerous manufacturing companies, the district still lacks a public hospital and relies solely on an under-resourced District Health Centre, which operates without a resident doctor.
The district, established in 2008 and now home to over 117,000 people, has seen significant population growth driven by industrial expansion. However, healthcare infrastructure has not kept up, with only a few Community Health Improvement Services (CHIPS) compounds and private facilities available.
In 2020, President Nana Akufo-Addo broke ground for a proposed 100-bed district hospital, promising €32 million in funding. Yet, four years later, construction has not started, leading residents to question the project’s future. While the District Chief Executive acknowledged these concerns, the District Director of Health Services declined to comment.
Local residents are calling for immediate action to address the healthcare needs of the district, highlighting the detrimental impact of the current situation. One resident remarked, “It was all politics; even the machines the contractor brought to the site have been removed. The road created for the project has only encouraged others to build in the area.”
