DAILY GRAPHIC

"The tragic amputation case at Goaso Hospital...Nurse found guilty, likewise medical assistant", is the headline of the main story on the front page of the Graphic. The story says a committee of the Ministry of Health has established that the negligence of some personnel at the Goaso Hospital in the Brong Ahafo Region, culminated in the amputation of the right hand of a two-year-old girl, Yaa Adomah, after blood transfusion at the hospital. The Graphic says the committee chaired by Dr C.J. Oppong, Surgical Specialist and Medical Superintendent of the Sunyani Hospital, was however of the opinion that the seizure in the flow of blood and subsequent gangrene were purely accidental. The committee established that the injury resulted from needle pricks rather than the holding of the girl's hand by four strong men as alleged by the duty nurse, Ms Grace Amankwaa. It described the allegation by the nurse as "a crude attempt to cover up and said the mother of the victim, Madam Akua Adomah, is an honest person who gave a true picture of what really happened at the hospital that fateful day. The ordeal of the little girl was published in the September 10 issue of the Graphic and it was mentioned that the parents were demanding a 50 million-cedi compensation from the hospital due to the negligence of the nurse who performed the blood transfusion. GRI

The Graphic in another front page story reports that workers of other departments of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), have threatened to withdraw their services if the management yield to the demands of the striking Air Traffic Control Officers. The Air Traffic Control Officers embarked on an industrial action about a week ago to back their demands for a minimum of 1,400 dollars and an allowance of 80 per cent the amount per month and improved working conditions, among others. The Graphic says the chairman of the Senior Staff Association of GCAA, Mr Michael Mawuenyega, told the paper in an interview that the other workers do not support the action taken by the striking officers and have indicated so to the management. He said though the Air Traffic Controllers belong to both the Union and the Senior Staff Association, they did not give these bodies any prior notice of their intention and only took a unilateral decision. Mr Mawuenyega, who is also the Deputy Airport Fire Officer, said any move to improve the working conditions, should embrace all categories of workers and not only a section. GRI

The Graphic reports in its centre spread that the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), has urged heads of educational institutions to exercise effective supervision through personal involvement and delegation of responsibilities. The paper says in a communique issued at the end of its 35th annual conference at Koforidua, CHASS said it is through e ffective supervision that the immediate and ultimate goals of the institutions could be achieved. The communique underscored the importance of motivation to enable such heads to give of their best. The Conference appealed to the government to make funds available for management training and capacity development to ensure excellence in supervision and other roles. It also called for the encouragement of science education in the country. GRI