AHSAG condemns Dormaahene’s action

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG), has condemned the recent action of the Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, in banishing the Presbyterian Hospital Manager from the town.

The Committee in an emergency meeting to discuss the issue described the banishment, which took effect from February 24th, as a serious violation of the fundamental human rights of the Hospital Manager guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

In a release issued and signed by its President, Mr Albert Asiedu-Ofei, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the Association identified itself with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and all well-meaning bodies who opposed the decision of the Dormaa Traditional Council, and urged all stakeholders to employ every available means to set aside the unfortunate decision.

The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, on February 17th, banished Mr. Fred Effah-Yeboah, Hospital Manager of the Presbyterian Hospital in Dormaa, for constructing a new mortuary instead of relying on the services of a mortuary built by the traditional authorities about 10 years ago.

In an earlier arrangement between the traditional authority and the hospital, the mortuary built by the traditional authorities was supposed to give part of its revenue to the hospital, but that arrangement was later not respected by the managers of the mortuary.

Following the completion of the hospital’s mortuary in December 2013, the people of Dormaa and other communities began patronising the services of the new mortuary instead of the old one, and that angered the chief and his men.

The release explained that the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital, with the approval of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, decided to build a mortuary on the hospital’s premises. The mortuary has since been built and made operational.

“The 'simple crime' of the General Manager, who is also a member of the AHSAG, was to see to the implementation of the decision of the Area Board of the Presbyterian Health Service, which is part of his assigned managerial responsibility”, it added.

The release also condemned the Dormaahene for dissolving the Area Board of the Presbyterian Health Service in Brong Ahafo, which he did not constitute.

“Ironically, the Dormaahene proceeded to appoint the Aduanahene of the Dormaa Traditional Area as the Chairman of the Board he had purportedly dissolved”.

It appreciated the significant contribution and role of traditional leaders in the delivery of health care services and appealed to the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Ministry of Health to find a peaceful resolution to the impasse in order to restore the civil liberties of Mr. Fred Effah-Yeboah.

The release assured Mr Effah-Yeboah and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana of their unflinching support.