First Lady cuts sod for construction of Children’s Hospital

A ceremony for the cutting of the sod to commence work on the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) Pediatric Emergency Unit was nearly marred when a protestor approached the first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, in the middle of her speech.

After interrogation by the security personnel, the gentleman was sent to the Korle-Bu police station where he was processed and granted bail after signing a statement of caution.

The protestor, identified as Reginald Sekyi Brown, a final-year student of the University of Ghana, who was holding a placard bigger than an A4 sheet with the inscription, #openUGMCNow, walked towards Mrs Akufo-Addo, drawing the suspicion of her security detail, who whisked him away.

Speaking with the media after his arrest, the protestor said he wanted to send a message through the first lady to President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

“We have bad health systems and I know the first lady who is the wife of President Akufo-Addo, can send a direct message to him. She has done several things in health and identified problems and solving issues in the sector so I thought I could send her the message to be given to the president,” he said.

In an interview with local radio stations, DSP Efia Tenge, Accra Regional police PRO, said the act was in breach of the first lady’s security as the student was a few feet away from where she was standing.

She said although the police did not find any weapons in the bag that he was carrying, investigations would continue to find out the intent of his action, indicating that no charges had been leveled against him.

Richard Darko, press secretary to Mrs Rebecca Akuffo, said her office was not worried about the incidence, taking into consideration his right to protest, adding that first lady’s security only stopped him because he crossed the limits set.

Mr. Darko also noted that the Office of the First Lady had no special interest in the case.