The Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has justified the decision to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr Paa Kwesi Baidoo.
He indicated that the action was to deter other officials from violating the presidential directive on the handling of emergency cases.
It is recalled that President John Mahama directed that under no circumstance should a patient be turned away under any emergency situation.
However, there was the thorny issue involving the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the temporary suspension of the CEO.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, raised this concern on the floor of Parliament that the Minister of Health should have involved Parliament before suspending the CEO.
“We hear interviews in the media without recourse to the house. We see letters by the Minister taking action against some Chief Executives. Mr Speaker, given the fact that the Minister himself held his predecessor to high level accountability. Once our colleague has risen to that high office and especially when he’s a member of this House, our expectation is he utilizes the platform of Parliament for us to understand what is happening in this sector,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
In response, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh indicated that the CEO erred and the suspension was to serve as a deterrent to other officials.
“When the President speaks, it’s a policy that the Minister must implement. Nobody has the right to close any portion of a health facility without the consent of the Health Minister. I invited the CEO and I inquired.
The man admitted and apologized before me. Punitive actions are meant to serve as deterrent. Is it a decision I needed no approval of the House to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minority is urging government to settle a $500,000 arrears to complete and operationalize the Afari Military Hospital.
After that was said, the Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Mavis Kukua Bisue, asked a question on the status and government’s plan concerning the Bokoro Government Hospital, which falls under the Agenda 111 project.
The Bokoro District Hospital in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region, which is currently at 86.5% completion, has been selected as one of the 35 Agenda 111 projects to be implemented under the first phase.
The contractor has been engaged to re-mobilize to continue and complete the outstanding work without delay.
