President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned an ultramodern 85-bed ward complex at the Ghana Police Hospital, expanding the facility’s capacity and improving healthcare delivery to police personnel and the general public.
Named the Christian Tetteh Yohuno Ward Complex, the facility lifts the hospital’s total bed capacity to more than 200, creating additional space for patients and allowing more specialised care to be offered on site.
The commissioning took place on Tuesday, October 13, in the presence of senior government officials, police leadership and health workers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno said the complex represented a significant step towards strengthening healthcare for officers of the Ghana Police Service.
“This landmark facility marks a major step in standardising health as a fundamental human right for the Ghana Police Service. This principle matters because officers’ ability to protect life and property depends largely on their physical and mental well-being.”
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno
The IGP said the well-being of officers was directly tied to their ability to serve the public, making investment in their health a matter of national security as much as welfare.
Established about 50 years ago primarily to serve police officers and their dependants, the hospital has since opened its doors to the general public, particularly in emergencies.
It also receives accident victims, officers injured in the line of duty, unidentified persons, and victims of violent crime and sexual abuse. Many of these patients arrive in critical condition and require immediate attention.
IGP Yohuno said these widening responsibilities had put mounting pressure on the existing infrastructure, making further investment necessary to meet the needs of both police personnel and the public.
Inside the New Complex
The complex has separate male and female medical and surgical wards, along with dedicated male and female paediatric wards. The IGP described the paediatric unit as the first of its kind at the hospital since its establishment five decades ago.
The building is fitted with diagnostic and patient-monitoring equipment, an in-house laboratory and a pharmacy. An elevator has been installed to move patients and medical supplies between floors.
Administrative offices are also housed in the complex, and parking space has been provided for approximately 50 vehicles. A welfare shop will serve patients, visitors and other users of the facility.
“Most importantly, the complex will allow more specialised care to be provided on site, reducing the need to transfer patients elsewhere and helping to minimise the associated costs and inconvenience.”
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno
Government Commits to Finish Wider Expansion
The ward complex forms part of a larger expansion that has been stalled for 22 years. At the ceremony, President Mahama announced that the government had terminated the contract with the original contractor following prolonged disagreements and cost overruns.
The state will now complete the project itself by the end of 2027. The President said he had directed Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson to provide approximately GH¢200 million in the 2027 budget for the work.
When finished, the wider expansion will add 106 beds and push the hospital’s total capacity beyond 300. It will include a 12-bed intensive care unit, a new accident and emergency centre, 11 consulting rooms and four paediatric consulting rooms.
The hospital will also receive MRI and CT scan machines, three general surgical theatres, a specialized orthopaedic theatre and an endoscopy unit. A mortuary with a capacity of 222 bodies is planned as part of the project.
President Mahama said the added infrastructure would strengthen the hospital’s ability to provide specialised care and respond to emergencies.
To bolster the hospital’s emergency services, the President also announced the donation of two new ambulances. The vehicles will complement the facility’s expanded operations and improve the transport of patients to and from the hospital.
With a larger emergency intake expected as the hospital grows, the ambulances are expected to shorten the time between an incident and treatment.
What the Complex Means for Patients
For patients, the most immediate change is space and range of care. Separate wards for men and women, and a dedicated paediatric section for children, give the hospital room to admit and treat more people at once while providing care suited to each group.
The in-house laboratory and pharmacy mean patients can have tests done and medication dispensed within the same compound. The monitoring equipment allows clinicians to track patients’ conditions more closely during admission.
Keeping more treatment on site is expected to ease a burden that has long fallen on families, who often had to arrange transfers to other facilities at their own expense and at considerable inconvenience.
Step Towards a Fully Modern Facility
The commissioning of the ward complex is the first visible result of the hospital’s upgrade. As the remaining components are completed, the Ghana Police Hospital is set to move from a facility under strain to a full-service referral centre.
With the contract dispute settled and funding earmarked for the 2027 budget, the government has set a clear target for the rest of the project. For police personnel, their families and the many members of the public who depend on the hospital, the new complex offers a first look at what the finished facility will provide.
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