The West Gonja Hospital has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1951. Under the Colonial Government of Great Britain, a clinic was established to provide healthcare services to the diligent workers of the Gonja Development Company. These workers were actively involved in the cultivation of groundnuts as part of a pilot scheme covering a vast expanse of Thirty Thousand (30,000) acres in 1949.

During this time, Father Gabriel Champagne, M.Afr, regularly visited the clinic, offering spiritual guidance and celebrating the Holy Eucharist with the Catholic community. Additional support came from the Fathers at St. Victor’s Major Seminary, who made periodic visits to Damongo, affectionately referred to as “the jungle” by the GDC staff. Damongo gradually became an outstation of Tamale, and priests from Tamale began visiting the Christian community every two weeks. Additionally, priests traveling to or from Wa would spend the night at the bungalow in Damongo and celebrate Mass the following morning. These spiritual connections fostered a sense of community and strengthened the bonds of faith among the people.

As time passed, it became evident that the Gonja Development Company would face closure, leading to the return of most colonial workers to the United Kingdom. Recognizing the need to sustain the healthcare services, Mr. Panton, the Managing Director, approached Father Gabriel Champagne with a request. He proposed that the Church take over the management of the clinic constructed in 1951 by the company for its workers. Father Champagne, in consultation with Father Thomas Tryers, acknowledged the merits of this proposal, deeming it favorable for the church to assume responsibility for the clinic’s operations. Thus, the groundwork was laid for a new chapter in the clinic’s history.

Establishing a religious congregation was deemed necessary to effectively carry out this new apostolate. To attract potential congregations, an advertisement was published in a Catholic newspaper in Liverpool under the guidance of Fr. Thomas Tryers. This fortuitously caught the attention of Mother Agnes, the then Superior General of the Sisters of Saint Anne, who perceived this as a divine calling to serve the Lord. Responding with great enthusiasm, Mother Agnes and her congregation, comprising fifty-four (54) sisters with their headquarters in Wimbledon, London, embraced this new mission wholeheartedly.

In January 1955, three Sisters of the Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne (SSA) arrived in Damongo to embark on their noble work. Their arrival marked a significant milestone, and on the 18th of April, 1955, the hospital was officially inaugurated, becoming a beacon of hope and healing in the region.

For nearly two decades, from 1955 to 1974, the diligent St. Anne’s Sisters faithfully managed the hospital. Their stewardship witnessed remarkable expansions in infrastructure and improvements in the scope and quality of healthcare services provided at the facility. In 1974, the mantle of leadership was passed on to the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit Congregation, who continued the noble task of guiding the hospital forward. And in June 1999, the responsibility was transferred to the capable hands of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI), acting on behalf of the Bishop of the Diocese. The Sisters of Mary Immaculate have since been at the helm, steering the hospital with dedication and compassion.

Since its inception, the West Gonja Hospital has experienced steady progress and development, witnessing significant advancements in both infrastructure and service provision.