Dormaa Presbyterian hospital denies links with NPP

Dormaa-Ahenkro (BA), Sept. 16, GNA - For hoisting the Dutch national flag to commemorate her long-standing friendship with the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Holland, the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital in the Brong-Ahafo Region is being linked by some minority political parties in the Dormaa-West Constituency to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Rumours, speculations and submissions emanating from sections of the minority parties in Dormaa indicated that, they were not comfortable with the Dutch national flag, which contained red, blue and white colours, similar to that of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), portraying the impression that the hospital's was in solidarity and support for the NPP.

Reacting to the speculations in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in what he termed "setting the records straight"; the General Manager of the hospital, Mr Fred Effah-Yeboah denied any links whatsoever between the hospital and any political party in the country. The General Manager explained that the Dormaa Presbyterian Hospital being a service provider had no intension to meddle in partisan politics.

Tracing the source of the co-incidence between the Dutch and the NPP colours at the hospital's premises, Mr. Effah-Yeboah said the Dutch national flag became one of four flags hoisted at the hospital to pay homage to the Dutch for their continued support for the Dormaa hospital. He said the flag was hoisted in 1985 to add to the Ghana national flag, that of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Albert Schweitzer Hospital's own flag.

"The flags have been in existence at the hospital long before 1992 when founders of political parties contesting elections under Ghana's current political dispensation began to put their parties together", the General Manager stressed.

From this argument, he said, it was obvious that the NPP's colours "came to meet that of the Dutch flag and therefore it has no link with the NPP colours".

Mr Effah-Yebaoh noted further that the hospital would never succumb to the whims and caprices of any individual or group that sought to drag its name into politics.

He described as unfortunate and un-nationalistic the attempts by some political office seekers to use the hospital and its staff as their bait to attract votes.

He said though the staff of the hospital were above eighteen years and were eligible voters by Ghanaian standards, the hospital has never and would never allow itself to be seen as a forum for partisan politics or any form of political assemble.

While reminding staff to desist from any acts of politicking within the hospital's premises, the General Manager threatened that the institution would employ all lawful avenues to ensure that no person or political party succeeded in dragging the hospital as an entity into politics.

He assured the Dormaa community of the hospital's preparedness to implement the policies of the Presbyterian Health Services within the confines of the directives of the Ghana Health Service without recourse to what any political party or individuals may say.