There have been claims that staff at the hospital deliberately deny patients services that the facility is supposed to offer, and instead directing them to private institutions which they own.

[contextly_sidebar id=”60VQ3BpoQ2waVO4YUaZMDC4jS6KzfIHj”]The President of the Association, Charles Offei Palm, speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, accused past executives of the hospital whom he claimed presided over corruption during their tenures, of trying to push the blame on the staff of the hospital.

“It’s a bad perception about us and that’s not right. These are being peddled by failed CEOs and failed Board Chairmen who in their zeal to justify their wrongdoing and corruption, tend to put the blame on staff,” he said.

“What was your role when you were CEO and Board Chairman? They are just noises being put out to the media to malign hardworking staff. Look at the number of staff we have and the work that we do, nobody talks about that.”

He explained that, the patients were directed to other facilities because the drugs they needed were not immediately available at the hospital.

He pointed to the fact that, instead of stocking up on the drugs for the hospital, officials instead procured expensive cars among others.

“We [told management] that the lab and pharmacy were collapsing, people would come in the middle of the night, but they wouldn’t get the drugs they need. If the management doesn’t provide the drugs, I have to show the patient where they can get it. That, to me is providing pharmaceutical care,” he said in defence of the staff.

“Where there have been instances where the services have not been provided, the patient must go out and get those services. That is different from when services are available, but the patients are redirected, which isn’t right. If you are in a hospital and you see people buying luxury cars and taking fat allowances but common drugs aren’t available, it gives you the power to fight corruption.”

On the warpath again

KOSSA has had several run-ins with the previous management of the hospital in recent years.

Last April, Charles Offei Palm was interdicted by the management of the hospital for “flouting the hospital’s media policy” by granting an interview to an Accra based radio station.

Prior to that, KOSSA sued the management of the hospital for initiating processes to sanction five of its members for accusing the management of corruption and mismanagement.

The members of the Association resorted to the Accra High Court to ask the court to among others, declare disciplinary procedures against them null and void.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Failed CEOs, Board Chairmen’ accusing us wrongly – Korle Bu Staff appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

KOSSA in a statement signed by its president, Charles Nii Kwade Ofei-Palm, said inasmuch as the issues being raised are relevant to the progress of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and must be pursued to its logical conclusion, “this must be done without the current public accusations and counter accusations.”

“KOSSA therefore wish to appeal to the Hospital administration whose leadership has led to the peace the hospital is currently enjoying, and UniBank, which is also engaged in providing invaluable services to the hospital. KOSSA also recognizes the impact the public disagreement has on the operations of the institution, and strongly advocates for the cessation of all media banter, while we and other stakeholders take steps to amicably resolve the differences in ways that will inure to the benefit of our patients and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital,” KOSSA added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4vEJLSyukvhQUfMzM9dI7sQREN2IbKR5″]The Senior Staff also appealed to President Akufo-Addo as well as the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, to help support the current efforts being made “at rebuilding Korle Bu and restoring its status as the Premier Teaching Hospital by the current CEO, Dr. Felix Anyah.”

Background

Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had decided to abrogate its contract with UniBank for the collection of revenue on its behalf.

The management of the hospital had complained about UniBank’s compatibility shortcomings with the End-to-End Hospital Revenue Collection Software which they said essentially led to revenue losses.

The hospital in a press statement, among other things accused UniBank of skipping a meeting to submit proposals for a new software for dealing with the revenue leaks.

It said Stanbic Bank, one of the institutions it engaged for the revenue collection project successfully presented a proposal, and was awarded the contract to pilot the new software in the entire hospital, which was valued at $240,000.

But Unibank debunked the claims describing it as “a total fabrication.”

UniBank doesn’t understand that we’re losing money

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer for Korle Bu, Mustapha Salifu, has insisted that UniBank Ghana Limited is yet to grasp the extent to which the hospital made losses due to the End-to-End Hospital Revenue Collection Software contract.

“If UniBank actually stated that we lied about revenue losses in the hospital, then it means they actually have not appreciated the complexities of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and the reason for which we are asking for a system that will enable us to automate the service so that we will reduce human interference,” he said in a Citi News interview.

The A-Plus factor

The issue came to the limelight following some corruption allegations musician A-Plus, against two presidential staffers, Francis Asenso-Boakye and Abu Jinapor.

A-Plus’ allegations had to do with a petition by UniBank to the effect that the management of Korle-Bu had abrogated the existing Memorandum of Understanding with them without any reason, thus treating them unfairly.

A-Plus held that the two presidential staffers played a role in the matter, but his allegations were later described as “baseless” an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Korle Bu Senior staff call for ceasefire over UniBank contract appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the association the new Chief Executive Officer, Dr Felix Anyah has shown enough commitment to work with the staff to ensure that their concerns are addressed.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8qXTJ87orr9jAcLgzFdPcr03Pvg4CTI2″]KOSSA had accused the previous CEO of mismanaging the hospital’s internally generated funds and paying needless judgment debts while neglecting the welfare of staff of the hospital.

But speaking to Citi News at the end of year durbar for its retired members, the President of KOSSA, Charles Offei-Palm said the hospital has seen tremendous change since the appointment of the new CEO.

“We’ve been complaining that the best way out is transparency. Now we have a new CEO who has come, if something will start it will happen from the beginning. Now we have seen a change, a change for the good. You will realize that the last CEO, during the last durbar, he banned all the directors from coming. Now the new CEO is with us sharing his vision for the hospital with the association.”

“The very association that fought against mismanagement. He said let’s put the past behind us, forge togetherness and move forward. And so that to me is a greater height of what we are yet to see in the hospital.”

Several persons appointed by successive governments as head of Korle Bu have not enjoyed the post for long as they usually clash with staff of the hospital.

Mr. Anyah was appointed in May 2017 by the President to serve as the new CEO of the hospital.

Dr. Anyah who owns the Holy Trinity Health and Spa farm at Sogakope in the Volta Region has distinguished himself in the health and hospitality industry, receiving a plethora of awards in recognition of his efforts in that area.

We’ll support new Korle Bu CEO

KOSSA earlier welcomed the appointment of Dr Felix Anyah as the new CEO of the hospital and have assured to support him to succeed.

They said Dr. Anyah has the expertise to turn around the fortunes of the health facility.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Korle Bu staff hopeful new CEO will succeed appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr Offei-Palm, who was interdicted in April 2016, for allegedly flouting the hospital’s media policy and making some offensive comments against the management of the hospital, was reinstated last month after he was cleared of all allegations by the Ministry of Health.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vPkY1xEeq6GMPMA9DcJjibYlWDZhVG8A”]Addressing the press at a thanksgiving service, Mr. Charles Offei-Palm expressed gratitude to members of the Association for their continuous support and encouragement during his trial period.

According to him, the present outcome was a vindication of his stance for truth and justice.

“We shall be spectators, but gallant citizens and workers of a worthy institution. We, therefore, stand to rejoice with the Lord.”

He further lauded President Akufo Addo and his government for their timely intervention.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank the President, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and a special commendation to the current Minister of Health, Hon. Agyemang Manu whose intervention has brought us this joy. Indeed, his intervention has also brought hope and we can now see light at the end of the tunnel in Korle Bu and in the Ministry of Health in general. I also say thank you to my able and humble executives who stood with me through this entire struggle.”

Why Offei-Palm sacked

The KOSSA president had accused the management of Korle-Bu of financial malfeasance, an accusation the management has denied.

About ninety percent of the members KOSSA passed a vote of no confidence in the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr. Gilbert Buckle, after accusing him of mismanaging the hospital’s internally generated funds and paying needless judgment debts while neglecting the welfare of staff of the hospital.

Charles Offei-Palm’s subsequent comment on the matter in a radio interview elicited anger from the hospital management who brought a case against him and referred it to the hospital’s disciplinary committee.

The committee decided to sack him in April 2016 after sitting on the case.

The dismissal letter said, “Following your interdiction and non-appearance for the disciplinary hearing, the Disciplinary Committee has proceeded in your absence and found you guilty of the offences leveled against you as per your interdiction letter. Upon the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee, your appointment with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is terminated with effect from 6th April, 2016.”

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post KOSSA welcomes Offei-Palm back after his reinstatement appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Last month, some senior staff members accused the management of illegally paying over one hundred thousand cedis as bonuses to themselves.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AMsf1qyhhGCEOAdSUZaBTTWwTjesLxGN”]The Secretary of the Association, James Clifford Oblittey, told Citi News that the probe is necessary to help retrieve the monies.

“We are hoping that the ministry will establish a committee to probe into the payments. We are calling for investigations into the payments to unravel all circumstances surrounding the payments; and we are also asking for the money to be retrieved. It should be paid back so that we can use the money for patient care.”

It emerged early this year that, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra spent about GHs300,000 on Christmas bonuses for its management and staff members.

The current CEO of the Hospital, Dr. Buckle, is alleged to have received GH¢ 21,000, while other members of the board are said to have taken home, GH¢17,000 each in extra allowances, with each staff member allegedly receiving GH¢100 as motivation.

The Korle-Bu Senior Staff Association, who said the payment smacks of corruption, are demanding that the monies are retrieved from the beneficiaries and used for the service of the hospital.

Mr. Oblittey said, “the board chairman in a media pronouncement stated clearly that, the board has no idea about that payment. Nothing came before the board for consideration either to accept or reject it, and that the whole payment is something they are not aware of. Apart from that, the amount that was mentioned, that is 100,000 is not so. We realized that the amount is around 306,000.”

Read the petition below:

CALL FOR PROBE INTO UNILATERAL PAYMENT OF ABOUT 306,000.00 ALLOWANCE BY THE KORLE BU TEACHING HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT TO ITSELF AND ALLIED MATTERS. 

For over three years now, KOSSA has been embroiled in many exchanges with the Board and Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for unprofessional and corrupt conducts.

The most current is the payment of about Gh¢306.000.00 (three hundred and six thousand Cedis) to the Management of the Hospital, this unilateral payment to itself was done around December, 2016.

It is instructive to note that this payment was beside the approved ¢100.00 (one hundred Cedis) paid each staff, including Management, as approved by the Board of Directors. This payment brings to question the competence and integrity of the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance, the Director of Administration and the Chief Internal Auditor.

It thus reveals how unsafe the fortunes of the Hospital are in the light of such gross abuse and act of impunity.

Sir, it is not our pleasure as KOSSA to seem to be constantly at the throat of Management; but when we see the plight of patients and lack of some basic materials that enhance quality health care of client’s vis-à-vis outrageous expenditures on non-essentials, it strikes our concerns.

We wish to refer you to three main letters/reports that we had submitted to your predecessors on health, with the heading: ACTS OF IMPUNITY BY THE KORLE BU TEACHING HOSPITAL BOARD AND MANAGEMENT; The second was dated 20/05/2016 again addressed to the Minister of Health titled: CONSOLIDATION OF FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES TO RUN DOWN THE KORLE-BU TEACHING HOSPITAL (KBTH) BY UNPATRIOTIC PERSONS IN AUTHORITY – FRAUDULENT ELEVATION OF THE KBTH’s INTERNAL AUDITOR TO THE STATUS OF A DIRECTOR.

Sir, in the face of the overwhelming acts of indiscretion, dereliction of duty and professional incompetence, KOSSA calls for a probe into the financial management of the KBTH.

It is our hope a probe will offer the incoming administration to find its feet to revive KBTH to exceed its former glory as the biggest health facility in West Africa with quality health service delivery. It is the hope that KOSSA can be assured of your integrity and co-operation in this national enterprise.

Yours faithfully,

James Clifford Oblitey

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post KOSSA petitions gov’t to probe misappropriation of funds at Korle-Bu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to officials, more than 70 people have lost their lives due to the bomb blast that occurred at the crowded Nyanya bus station on the outskirts of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

In her message of condolence, Becca says “Africa lost the moment a grain of hair was lost.”

“My deepest condolence to the victims and families and To the great state of Nigeria on your loss yesterday, in Abuja. Your loss is our loss as well. Africa lost the moment a grain of hair was hurt! May God grant us all peace and understanding,” she wrote.

No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed Boko Haram.

By: Kojo Akoto Boateng/citifmonline/Ghana

The post Becca sympathises with Abuja blast victims appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.