Tensions are rising at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi-Takoradi after vendors were locked out of their shops on May 8. The hospital says the action was to enforce a relocation plan. But the vendors say it was unfair and done without proper notice.
The locked-out vendors sold food, toiletries, and phone accessories. They returned that morning to find their shops sealed with new locks. They claim the eviction was sudden and meant to remove competition for hospital staff who run their own small businesses.
Hospital authorities, however, say vendors were given several warnings. A new site for the shops has been ready since 2020, but the traders refused to move. The hospital says the vendors were too close to the wards, causing noise, crowding, and poor hygiene.
Hospital management says they received complaints from both staff and visitors. They argue that the eviction was necessary to keep the hospital clean and peaceful for healing.
But many vendors are angry. They believe the hospital staff want to get rid of them so they can sell their own items, like water and snacks, at higher prices inside the hospital. The vendors say they have been at the hospital for years. They believe the move should have been done with better support and planning.
The new shop area is still mostly empty. Vendors fear they will lose customers if they move there. Hospital staff say they don’t understand the refusal to relocate since notices were given several times.
The public is divided. Some people support the hospital’s decision to clear the area. Others feel the move was too harsh and should have included help for the vendors.
The hospital has not yet responded to claims that staff are competing with vendors. But sources say patient care and hospital standards are their main goals.
For now, the vendors remain locked out, and the new market area remains unused. Without a quick solution, the conflict could grow and damage trust between the hospital and the community.