Uneasy calm at Korle-Bu

Tongues are wagging at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) over how the Board, which is chaired by former financier of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Eddie Annan, is running the hospital.

Some have likened the management of the hospital to a ‘bicycle hiring service’ with the Board Chairman, who is now operating like a de-facto Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and members of the Board, virtually running the show.

DAILY GUIDE has stumbled on a number of documents in which Eddie Annan purportedly used his position and influence on the hospital’s Board to appoint his cronies to vacant and non-existing positions.

In an attempt to extend the contract of the Acting CEO (Chief Administrator), Professor Afua Hesse, Health Minister, Sherry Ayittey was compelled by prevailing circumstances to prevent an intended sit-down strike by senior staff of the hospital who were gearing up for a massive demonstration.

Mr Annan defied several instructions and reminders from the sector Minister to advertise for the position of CEO for prospective candidates to apply since Prof Afua Hesse was due for retirement by September 2013.

Apparently, the Board Chairman had passed a resolution seeking to extend the mandate of Prof Hesse. The move compelled the Minister to declare their decision null and void, citing relevant portions of the Constitution to back her action.

In a letter dated June 20, 2013 to Mr Annan, she noted that the terms of office of most members of the hospital’s Board had expired and subsequently directed Prof. Hesse to proceed on leave with effect from July 10, 2013 prior to her retirement.

Afua Hesse, who is currently on leave, is said to have told some staff of the hospital that she would return to assume the position despite attaining the retirement age of 60.

Apart from that, Eddie Annan has been making a number of illegal appointments to senior management positions.

Power play

He appointed Cynthia Boateng and Ebenezer Prince Arhin as Deputy Director of Administration and Deputy Director of Human Resource respectively.

Cynthia was literally hand-picked as Special Assistant to Mrs. Hesse at the instance of Eddie Annan some six months ago after she failed to pass an interview for the position of Director of Administration.

The post was given to her as gratis, and in a memo dated July 15, 2013 from the Acting Chief Administrator to the Board Chairman and copied to the Director Human Resources and all Directors, she gladly admitted that “even though another candidate was chosen as Director of Administration, Mrs Boateng performed so well that she could have passed as Director.”

“It was then thought necessary to appoint her to assist in the administration of the CEO’s Secretariat in order for the hospital to benefit fully from her skills,” the memo indicated, although the position was not advertised.

Apparently, the Director of Human Resource had cause to write a memo dated July 11, 2013 to Prof. Hesse in which he raised issues about the lack of transparency in the processes leading to her appointment.

Confusion

The Director HR, who described Mrs Boateng’s appointment letter as “flawed in content and structure, indicated that “there is currently no establishment for an additional Deputy Director (Administration) and no formal processes have been initiated by management to create an establishment post for that position.”

In the case of Ebenezer Prince Arhin, who read Agricultural Science, he has never worked in a Human Resources establishment but is being forced on the hospital as Deputy Director of Human Resources.

Eddie Annan ordered that an appointment letter be issued to the gentleman in spite of the fact that he lacks the capacity to work in that position.

The Director of HR of hospital protested, but Eddie Annan and Prof. Hesse threatened to dismiss him.

Eddie Annan considers the director of HR as a torn in their flesh.

Scandal

Another scandal that has hit the hospital’s Board is the appointment of a member, 37-year-old Godfred Ahienyo as Chairman of a supposed three-member committee to audit various processes at the Directorates and other sub-BMCs at Korle-Bu.

This was contained in a letter dated November 22, 2012 addressed to Mr Ahianyo by the Board Chairman with perks, including a monthly allowance of GHc2,900.00, duty post vehicle, duty post accommodation and a monthly telephone credit of GHc60.00.

In addition to that, Mr Ahianyo is entitled to “any other facilities/benefits which are not stated specifically in this letter but which are enjoyed by the senior staff of the hospital under their approved conditions of service.”

When the then Minister of Health queried Eddie Annan over the illegal appointment, he was said to have retorted that he was not answerable to the Minister because he was appointed by the President (Prof Mills) just as the Minister.

Minister’s intervention

In a letter dated December 24, 2012 and signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Dr Sylvester Anemana on behalf of the Minister to the Board Chairman, he described the appointment of Mr Ahianyo as “a clear case of conflict of interest.”

“Every Board/Council has approved allowances for Board members and sub-committee work. What you provided in your letter is equivalent to emoluments of a permanent employee.”

“Why should the appointment be indefinite if it simply entails an audit of processes and why should conditions of service that go with a permanent appointment, such as duty post accommodation go with such an assignment?” he quizzed rhetorically.

“These administrative lapses suggest the administrative support for you and management of the hospital is either weak or is not being used in the day to day administration of the hospital.”

The latest plan to appoint one of the non-executive Board members in the person of Reverend Albert Botchway as acting CEO of the hospital is detrimental to the health institution.

In a letter dated July 23, 2013, Prof Hesse indicated that she would proceed on leave from Friday, July 26, 2013, noting that “in my absence, Rev Albert O. Botchway, Board member will act as the Chief Administrator of the hospital,” a development which has raised concerns among senior staff of the hospital.

This is in view of the fact that non-executive Board members are to provide policy guidelines for implementation by the executive.

The move is seen as an attempt by Prof Hesse and the Eddie Annan to give the Board the power to run the hospital, which is not part of their mandate.

Staff agitation

Staff of the hospital have started grumbling over these underhand dealings, among others, at the hospital which is affecting its output.

They are planning a massive demonstration against the present Board.

A staff of the hospital, who pleaded anonymity, described the Eddie Annan-led Board as the worst in the history of Korle Bu.

The staff passionately pleaded with the President to immediately dissolve the Board to save the hospital from further crisis.

Korle Bu needs a Board that understands the specialized nature of the health sector, another staff noted.