Member of Parliament for Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo has called on the government to open the newly commissioned Upper West regional hospital and ensure that the facility is operational.

The 160-bed facility which cost the state over $52 million was commissioned by President Akuffo-Addo on August, 18 amidst pomp and pageantry, but still remains locked.

Addressing participants who took part in health walk against breast cancer in the Upper West regional capital, the MP questioned why the facility was still locked up, describing it as unacceptable.

"Once the commissioning has taken place we have to make sure we opened it up for work. So much money is invested there and yet not a single activity of health treatment is going on there,” he said.

Dr Pelpuo also used the opportunity to call on the Ministry of Health to create an enabling environment by providing health professionals in the municipality with accommodation in order to retain them.

He said the Wa municipality with a population of about 150,000 people but only had three doctors to take care of their health needs.

''I will like to call on the ministry of health to reexamine the health needs of the people and to make sure that we have just not locum doctors but resident doctors who will stay in Wa and treat our people when they fall ill'', he added.