Electricity has been restored to a hospital in northern Ghana, bringing relief to a doctor who reported the tragic deaths of two babies due to a power disconnection by a state-owned energy company earlier this month.
Dr. Gbeadese Ahmed from St. Anne’s Hospital in Damango expressed his gratitude as he prepared to resume surgical operations that had been put on hold for the past seven days.
The intervention came after local Member of Parliament and Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, helped settle part of the hospital’s debt to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (Nedco), according to Dr. Ahmed. The decision followed an interview the doctor had given to My News Africa on Monday, shedding light on the detrimental impact of the power outage on the state-run hospital located more than 630km (390 miles) away from the capital city, Accra.
Dr. Ahmed explained that two babies had tragically lost their lives, while three others remained in critical condition because the lack of electricity had prevented the hospital from organizing crucial blood transfusions for the newborns.
The ordeal began on May 4 when the hospital’s power was initially disconnected due to an outstanding debt of over $370,000 (£342,000). Tragically, it was during this period that the first baby passed away, as reported by Dr. Ahmed.
Although the electricity supply was restored temporarily, Nedco had issued a warning that a complete settlement of the outstanding bill was required; otherwise, the power would be disconnected again. Unfortunately, on May 16, the power was shut off once more, leading to the devastating loss of the second baby within the past week.
In recent weeks, Ghana’s state-owned power companies have intensified efforts to recover outstanding debts, leading to disconnections for defaulting customers. Numerous government institutions have been affected, experiencing power cuts due to unpaid bills.
We hope that the restoration of electricity to St. Anne’s Hospital will prevent further tragic incidents and allow medical professionals to provide the necessary care to their patients.
