President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned an 85-bed ward complex at the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra as part of efforts to expand the facility’s capacity and improve healthcare delivery to police personnel and the general public.
The ultramodern facility, named the Christian Tetteh Yohuno Ward Complex, increases the hospital’s total bed capacity to more than 200, providing additional space for patients and allowing more specialised medical services to be delivered on site.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, October 13, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno described the project as a significant investment in the health and well-being of police officers.
“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,” he said.
Established about five decades ago primarily to provide healthcare for police officers and their dependants, the hospital has gradually expanded its services to accommodate members of the general public, particularly those requiring emergency care.
The facility also attends to accident victims, officers injured in the line of duty, unidentified persons, and victims of violent crimes and sexual abuse.
However, the IGP said the growing demands on the hospital had placed considerable pressure on its existing infrastructure, underscoring the need for additional investment to improve service delivery.
The new ward complex features separate male and female medical and surgical wards, alongside dedicated male and female paediatric wards.
Mr Yohuno noted that the paediatric unit was the first of its kind at the hospital since its establishment approximately 50 years ago.
The facility is also equipped with diagnostic and patient-monitoring equipment, an in-house laboratory, a pharmacy and an elevator to facilitate the movement of patients and medical supplies.
Other amenities include administrative offices, parking space for about 50 vehicles and a welfare shop to serve patients and other users of the complex.
“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,” the IGP said.
Other investments in police healthcare
Mr Yohuno outlined other interventions undertaken to improve healthcare delivery at the Police Hospital, including the renovation of its emergency area, refurbishment of the mortuary and establishment of a facility for unidentified accident and emergency victims.
He also cited the introduction of electronic medical records as part of efforts to improve the hospital’s operations and patient management.
Beyond Accra, the IGP disclosed that the approximately 100-bed Tamale Police Hospital had been completed and equipped, extending healthcare infrastructure investments to the northern part of the country.
He, however, stressed that sustaining the new ward complex would be just as important as its construction, urging continued attention to its maintenance to ensure that it serves its intended purpose over the long term.
