Parliament directs ministries to collaborate to prevent hospital power cuts

Parliament has directed the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Health to find a lasting solution to challenges affecting the electricity supply to health facilities in Ghana.

The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, says hospitals should not experience any power outage in their healthcare services.

This comes after the Member of Parliament(MP) for Tain, Adama Sulemana, told the house that the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) had disconnected the Tain District Hospital from the national grid over a GH¢7 million debt.

The MP urged Parliament to compel the government to cover the electricity expenses for the efficient operation of the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, said the Tain Hospital was disconnected in October but was later reconnected after a series of engagements between NEDCo and other stakeholders.

Several hospitals across the country have had to suspend healthcare services this year due to power supply cuts over debt.

In May 2023, NEDCo disconnected the power supply to St Anne’s Hospital in Damongo in the Savannah Region twice over a GH¢4.8 million debt.

This led to the shutdown of the OPD and administration, causing the death of two babies. 

It was later reconnected after the intervention of the Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril.

In April, the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa was also disconnected from the national grid over a GHȻ20 million debt owed to NEDCo.