Wa Regional Hospital Medical Director fired for misappropriation of funds

The Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital Dr. Barnabas Bamaha Naa Gandau and the Head of Finance have been released of their duties for misappropriation and misapplication of the hospital’s funds.

A letter written and signed by the Director-General on behalf of the Ghana Health Service Council and copied to the Director intercepted by www.myradiowaa.com had it that the Medical Director and his Head of Finance have caused some infractions of the Public Financial Management Act 2016(Act 912) and breached some laid down procedures of the Ghana Health Service.

“A review of investigations conducted into the activities at the Wa Regional Hospital by the Internal Audit Division of the Ghana Health Service as per the attached copy of audit report indicates infractions of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act 912) and other laid down procedures of the Ghana Health Service”.

The letter sighted attributed the cause of the infractions to poor management supervision on the part of the Medical Director and his Head of Finance at the facility leading to massive misappropriation and misapplication of the facility’s Fund.

“The root cause of the infractions which has led to misappropriation and misapplication of funds belonging to the Hospital has been attributed to lack of proper management supervision on your part and the Head of Finance of the facility. In the assessment of the Council, the continuous stay of the two of you at the hospital will not be in the best interest of the service” the letter stated.

The Director was further ordered to refund an amount of Gh¢ 25,000.00 granted him which is still outstanding and will also be held responsible for an amount of GH¢153,096.00 being excess of deprived allowances paid, should the beneficiaries fail to return the money.

“As also stated in the attached copy of the audit report, you are kindly reminded that you are required to refund an amount of Twenty Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 25,00) granted you on 24th March 2016, which is still outstanding. Again if the amount of One Hundred and Fifty-Three Thousand and Ninety-Six Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 153,096.00) being excess of deprived allowances paid could not be retrieved from the beneficiaries, you and the Head of Finance shall be held liable for your role played in excess payment”.

Dr. Gandau was served with the letter and asked to hand over all the hospital’s belongings in his possession in good condition to the Clinical Coordinator by the close of July 19, 2019.