Woman, 73, Detained At Korle Bu Over Bills

The inability of Madam Ayi Kpakpa, 73, to settle her medical bill of ?2.2 million at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has led to her detention there. It is not certain how the case fits into the exemption policy announced by the government for senior citizens, pregnant women and children under five years.

But when contacted by the ‘Times’ to clarify the situation, Miss Georgina Adu-Amankwah, Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the patient’s ward said the policy was not applicable at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. “Here everybody pays for his or her medical treatment including even doctors”.


Madam Kpakpa who hails from Ahi near Agbozume in the Volta Region was officially discharged on June 5, 2003 after successfully undergoing a surgical operation to correct a medical condition known as carcinoma of the cervix. But due to her inability to pay, she has been prevented from leaving her ward.

Madam Kpakpa told the “Times” that her son paid ?300,000 last Wednesday and pleaded that she should be released and the rest of the amount paid later, but the hospital authorities refused.


She, therefore appealed to benevolent organizations and individuals to come to her aid.