The Savanna Research and Advocacy Network (SARAN) has given the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu a one week ultimatum to reinstate Dr. Thomas Winsum Anaba as Medical Director of the Ridge hospital.
According to SARAN, the transfer of Dr. Anaba from the Ridge hospital to the University for Development Studies was unlawful and inconsistent with the four year contract agreement with the Health service council.
At a press conference held in Bolgatanga last Tuesday, Communication Director of SARAN, Mr. Zinekena Solomon described the actions of government as witch-hunting questioning the justification for relieving Dr. Anaba of his post.
[contextly_sidebar id=”gYk5O3doOUN8RHuntpGuyRJatf9ryHgr”]”We ask the Minister of Health Agyemang Manu whether Dr. Anaba appointment was unlawful. Has Dr. Anaba breached his contract? How can a health minister take directives from a construction company who says Dr. Anaba was incompetent in managing the Ridge hospital without due process? In any case, Dr. Anaba went through competitive interview and was duly appointed by the Health service council for a four-year mandate and his appointment was not political.”
Mr. Zinekena recounted the enormous achievements of Dr. Anaba at the Ridge hospital and urged government to call the health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu to order and reinstate Dr. Anaba in order not to incur their wrath.
“We the members of SARAN believe President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo will reinstate Dr. Anaba to perform his duties as a Medical Director of Ridge hospital just as he (the President Nana Addo) did in less than three (3) days in the case of Dr. Wilfred K. Anin-Odame, the Lands Commission Chief Executive Officer. We will be forced to hit the streets to demand justice and fairness if our president fails to tackle the issue within one week ultimatum,” Zinekena stated.
Anaba’s suspension
A supposed letter addressed to Dr. Anaba directed to him to hand over to the Public Services Commission, three years short of the expiration of his tenure.
The letter said the directive was from the Health Minister, who has subsequently appointed Dr. Anaba’s predecessor, Emmanuel Kwabla Srofenyoh.
But Dr. Anaba took the letter as a sign of bad faith and insisted it would be impossible to hand over until the necessary arrangements are put in place for his predecessor to assume his role.
He has also threatened to sue the Health Minister for unduly transferring him from his post.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana