Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the Member of Parliament for the Oda constituency and a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, has accused the government of engaging in a charade and insulting the intelligence of Ghanaians.
Responding to the suspension of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the lawmaker lamented that the Health Minister has demonstrated gross incompetence, partisan politics, and a penchant for needless actions.
He argued that the Minister is behaving like an autocrat who is failing to exercise sound judgment.
The Health Ministry, he noted, is a critical sector that requires leadership free from autocracy, as high-handedness can severely undermine healthcare delivery.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the MP posited that the decision to suspend the CEO was entirely unnecessary and fails to address the actual challenges on the ground.
He explained that because the suspended CEO is a consultant in trauma and emergency care, the doctors are strongly behind him.
He further argued that the CEO acted in the best interest of his medical staff, making the suspension wholly unwarranted.
Drawing a parallel to broader systemic issues, the lawmaker questioned why the ruling government has failed to operationalize hospitals constructed by the previous administration, suggesting they fear it would bring positive commendation to their political rivals.
According to Mr. Acquah, the KATH management took calculated actions to protect lives and avoid overstretching medical professionals.
However, the government irrationally suspended the CEO despite his actions being in the best interest of the facility. He asserted that politics must have no place in the health sector.
Commenting on the decision by local doctors and nurses to strike, he stated it was a direct act of solidarity with the suspended CEO who had protected their interests.
He also noted that the country recently witnessed a similar incident at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where the CEO cowardly claimed that recorded overcrowding was artificial intelligence (AI) generated.
The MP stressed the need for the government to reinstate the suspended CEO immediately, while simultaneously admonishing the striking health professionals to return to their posts.
“We have asked the government to reinstate the CEO. We have also appealed to the health workers to resume work because if we lose human lives and they resume work, those we’ve lost will not return to life. So we encourage them to consider those who need care and call off their strike despite the needless action to suspend the CEO.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana