St. Anne's Hospital in Damongo, located in the Savannah region, has regained its power supply following the intervention of Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, Member of Parliament for the area.
The hospital faced a power cut by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) due to an outstanding debt of 4 million Ghana cedis.
After Citi News reported the unfortunate deaths of two infants and the critical conditions of three others caused by the power outage, Mr Jinapor, who also serves as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, made payments to NEDCo to ensure the hospital's reconnection and full operational capacity.
Dr Gbeadese Ahmed, the hospital's head of communications and clinical coordinator, expressed that the power outage had hindered the hospital's access to blood from the Blood Bank and the ability to conduct compatibility tests for transfusions, leading to the loss of two babies.
However, Maxwell Kotoka, the corporate communications manager for NEDCo, defended the decision to cut off power to the hospital, citing the hospital's failure to engage with the power company regarding their outstanding debt of GH¢4.8 million.
Kotoka suggested that the hospital had the opportunity to make arrangements with NEDCo but neglected to do so, despite receiving prior notice about the disconnection.
“Needing the power, which is crucial to their operations, when they faced challenges, they should have engaged us, but they didn't do that. I heard them mention owing GH¢4 million, but they actually owe us GH¢4.8 million. Before we carried out the disconnection, we made a public announcement notifying them in advance,” Mr Kotoka explained to Umaru Sanda Amadu.
