The Bolgatanga Municipal Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Alhaji Alhassan Lawal, has called for the construction of a Municipal Hospital to reduce the growing pressure on the Upper East Regional Hospital. 

He expressed concern about the municipality's lack of a hospital to complement the work of the Regional Hospital, which was frequently overcrowded, particularly at its Out-Patient Department (OPD). 

“Bolgatanga needs a Municipal Hospital so that we can take the burden off the Regional Hospital. Only specialised or higher-level cases should be referred to the Regional Hospital,” he said. 

Alhaji Lawal made the call while addressing health sector stakeholders at the 2026 Mid-Year Performance Review Meeting of the GHS in the Bolgatanga Municipality. 

The meeting was held on the theme: “Advancing Free Primary Health Care in Ghana: Strengthening Access, Equity and Quality Service Delivery.” 

It provided an opportunity for managers of the Service to assess their performance during the period under review and develop strategies to improve healthcare delivery across the municipality. 

Expressing deep concern over the situation, Alhaji Lawal appealed to the media in the region to intensify advocacy for the establishment of a Municipal Hospital. 

He noted that the Bolgatanga Health Centre, which currently had a medical officer serving the entire municipality, was in a deplorable condition and lacked the capacity to adequately serve the growing population or reduce the burden on the Regional Hospital, the region’s main referral facility. 

The Municipal Director further urged the people of Bolgatanga to treat the issue as a priority and advocate for the construction of a municipal hospital. 

“I think the citizens of Bolgatanga Municipality should also push for a Municipal Hospital,” he said. 

Although plans are underway to renovate the Bolgatanga Health Centre with support from the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, Alhaji Lawal expressed concern about the limited availability of land for future expansion. 

“We are using the Bolgatanga Health Centre as our Municipal Hospital in the interim because that is where the doctor is. But the place is in a very deplorable state,” he said. 

Contributing to the call for a Municipal Hospital, Sydney Ageyomah Abilba, the Regional Focal Person for Malaria, who chaired the meeting, stressed the need for a dedicated Municipal Health facility. 

“We cannot continue to rely on the Regional Hospital. We have primary and secondary health care. We cannot mix the two,” he said. 

Mr Abilba explained that the Regional Hospital was a referral facility and should not be burdened with the management of minor conditions. 

“The Regional Hospital is a referral centre and should not be focusing on minor conditions. That is why the Ghana Health Service has primary, secondary and tertiary levels of service delivery,” he stated. 

He noted that the same level of strong advocacy that led to the establishment of a Passport Office in the region could also help secure the construction of a Municipal Hospital. 

Mr Abilba expressed optimism that, with the support of the chiefs and people of the municipality, coupled with strong political commitment, a Municipal Hospital could be built to meet the healthcare needs of residents and ultimately reduce the burden on the Regional Hospital.