Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has commissioned an expanded dialysis unit valued at an estimated GH¢4 million at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa to improve access to kidney care in northern Ghana.
The project was commissioned on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in partnership with Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD), the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other development partners.
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According to a statement from Parliament, the expanded facility is intended to improve access to life-saving dialysis services for thousands of people across the Upper West, Upper East, Savannah, North East and Bono regions, as well as other communities in northern Ghana.
The expansion includes six new dialysis machines, ancillary equipment and staff training support to strengthen the hospital’s renal care capacity and reduce the need for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to travel long distances for treatment.
The statement said chronic kidney disease is one of the fastest-growing non-communicable diseases globally, affecting an estimated 674 million people, most of whom live in low- and middle-income countries.
In Ghana, the disease claims more than 4,000 lives annually, while fewer than 500 dialysis machines serve the entire country. Patients require between GH¢1,200 and GH¢3,000 for three dialysis sessions each week.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Speaker Bagbin described the project as an investment in healthcare equity and social justice and said the people of the Upper West deserve access to quality healthcare regardless of their location.
He commended SHEILD and the project’s partners for supporting the initiative and called for continued collaboration to strengthen specialist healthcare services across the country.
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr Sylvie Anie, said the expanded dialysis unit represents hope for patients and families who have struggled to access specialised kidney care and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving equitable access to quality healthcare.
Another Board Director of SHEILD, Dr John Nkrumah Mills, said the project demonstrates how strategic partnerships can strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system through investment in people, infrastructure and capacity building.
Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr. (Med.) Philip K. K. Baabiineh, said the expanded unit would significantly improve the hospital’s ability to provide timely and high-quality renal care while reducing the burden on patients and their families.
Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, welcomed the initiative, describing it as consistent with the government’s efforts to expand specialist healthcare services and reduce regional disparities in access to treatment.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by government officials, traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, development partners, healthcare professionals, private sector representatives, civil society organisations and community representatives.
