Government to expand emergency capacity at four major hospitals

By: Winifred Fosua Agyekum
The government is set to expand emergency care capacity at four major hospitals across Ghana as part of efforts to address persistent challenges in the country’s emergency healthcare system.

The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the expansion will cover Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Mr

Akandoh said the move follows recommendations from a committee established to investigate challenges affecting emergency care.

“We are looking at the expansion of the emergencies at Komfo Anokye, Tamale, Korle Bu, 37 Military Hospital,” he said.

He cited Korle Bu as an example, noting that its emergency unit currently has about 67 beds compared with more than 1,000 beds across the hospital.

According to him, the government considers the existing emergency capacity inadequate and plans to expand it as part of the wider redevelopment of the hospital.

The redevelopment will include a 400-bed facility, a mother and child centre, fertility centre, theatres, intensive care units and car parks.

The minister said the contractor for the project is already on site, describing the development as a “hospital within a hospital.”

Beyond expanding physical infrastructure, the government is also piloting a national electronic emergency bed management system to improve the allocation and use of existing beds.

Mr Akandoh said a command centre at Ridge Hospital is already monitoring emergency bed occupancy at participating facilities, allowing authorities to determine where beds are available.

He explained that beds have been barcoded and designated officers assigned to continuously update the system, while the National Ambulance Service has also been integrated to help determine where patients should be taken.

The minister said the system is intended to ensure more efficient use of limited emergency resources and reduce the length of time patients spend occupying emergency beds.

Meanwhile, Mr Akandoh disclosed that more than 200 ambulances are currently operational, with the government planning to procure an additional 100 new ambulances in 2027.

He said the distribution of the new vehicles has not yet been determined but may include replacing ambulances that are no longer functional.

On disciplinary action against health workers implicated in the emergency care review, the minister said institutions are still implementing the committee’s recommendations.

He maintained that persons recommended for sanctions remain subject to Ghana’s laws, adding that some cases involve legal considerations that must be addressed.

“We are implementing the recommendations of the committee,” he said.