Management of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital) has appealed to the government to urgently commence work on the second phase expansion of the facility, as it is currently overwhelmed by a rapidly rising number of patients.
According to hospital authorities, the facility is constrained by limited infrastructure and staff shortages, noting that upgrading the Greater Accra Regional Hospital into a full-fledged Teaching Hospital has become an urgent priority.
The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Leslie Issa Adam-Zakariah, stated that referral cases continue to increase daily, placing constant pressure on the existing Phase One infrastructure, and emphasised that expansion into Phase Two is no longer optional but a necessity.
Dr Adam-Zakariah told The Ghanaian Times yesterday in Accra that the Outpatient Department (OPD) alone records over 600 patients daily, while the emergency unit, built to accommodate only 20 beds, now handles more than 80 emergency cases every day.
He explained that the hospital, originally designed to serve a specific population within the Greater Accra Region, now manages patient volumes far exceeding its intended capacity, placing immense strain on staff, space and resources.
“Expanding this facility has become an urgent priority and a vital step toward meeting the growing healthcare needs of our patients. The hospital’s appeal for donor support continues, and hope remains strong for the long-awaited Phase Two expansion, which is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” he said.
“We are doing the work of two hospitals with the infrastructure of one. The pressure on Phase One is intense clinically, logistically and emotionally for our staff,” Dr Adam-Zakariah added.
Beyond infrastructure challenges, he emphasised the critical need for staff accommodation, describing it as a major factor affecting efficiency, availability and morale among health workers.
He noted that many doctors, nurses and other essential personnel commute long distances daily, often resulting in lateness, fatigue and reduced capacity to respond promptly to emergencies.
Providing on-site accommodation, he said, would significantly ease commuting stress and reduce travel time, particularly in Accra where traffic congestion remains a major challenge.
“When health workers are exhausted before their shift even begins, it affects response times, performance and ultimately patient care. Staff housing is no longer optional but vital for sustaining quality service delivery,” he stressed.
Dr Adam-Zakariah indicated that once Phase Two becomes operational, it would significantly reduce pressure on existing wards, theatres and outpatient units, restore dignity to care delivery and improve patient outcomes.
He further revealed that the hospital largely relies on its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to procure essential medical supplies and carry out routine maintenance.
“Every cedi we generate internally goes straight back into patient care — drugs, consumables, equipment servicing and facility maintenance. From oxygen supplies and diagnostic consumables to the maintenance of lifesaving equipment, our financial margins are thin, leaving little room for infrastructure upgrades or staff incentives,” he said.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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