This is because one of the suppliers to the hospital who is owed huge amounts, is threatening to sue the hospital, an action which management says will affect their operations.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LvRrBHTd7Mcp1wiAVFe6snM7Gd9nyiO9″]Currently, Pantang hospital owes its suppliers to the tune of three hundred and fifty million Ghana cedis, which has been accruing since 2013.

The Acting Head of Pantang Hospital, Dr. Frank Baning, told Citi News the Hospital has been forced to buy on credit due to lack of funds.

“Last year [2016], we did not receive any medicine. When you do not get, you buy it off in the market and then you pass it on to the people. Just like how government buys everything…I think at the moment we are owing something in the range of about 3.5 million cedis for food and services.

“The people are not happy. I know one is threatening to take us to court. I think they have been meeting people as well, they have been engaging, but if you do not have the money what will you do?”

Pantang Hospital is not the only mental health facility struggling to operate.

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital is experiencing similar challenges. The Chief Executive Mental Officer of the Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei, had said that the limited inflow of disbursements from stakeholders, is hindering the facility from rendering services effectively.

The Hospital almost shut down some months ago due to a four million Ghana cedi debt owed its suppliers.

The previous government only paid five hundred thousand cedis, and provided some supplies to the facility at the time, but this could not mitigate the challenge.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Pantang Hospital begs for funds to prevent lawsuit appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The visit follows recent agitation of the staff over the encroachment of developers on lands belonging to the Hospital.

At the time of the visit, some encroachers were seen busily building.

This prompted the joint committee to direct that construction works on the hospital’s lands be suspended immediately.

The Director of the Hospital, Dr Frank Bening, told journalists that the encroachment on the lands of the hospital was only a fraction of the challenges that bedevil the facility.

He said that funding was the greatest challenge owing to the failure of successive governments to allocate the required resources to the facility.

He lamented the current indebtedness of the hospital which he said stands at GHs3.5m.

Dr Bening concluded that, until something was done about the sprawling private development of their land and the financial difficulties facing the facility, a time may come where the hospital cannot live up to its mandate.

He expressed shock at a court ruling two weeks ago that a section of the 344 acres Pantang Hospital land developed in 1967 belonged to a private developer and called on the committee to intervene before the hospital lost its entire space to private developers by the courts.

The Chairmen of the Health and Lands and Forestry Committees of Parliament, Dr Kwabena Twum Nuamah (MP, Berekum East) and Francis Manu Adabor (MP, Ahafo Ano South East) briefed the media after touring the area indicating that parliament were going to invite all stakeholders in land administration to find a solution to the encroachments that has hit the facility.

–

By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Joint parliamentary committee tours Pantang Hospital appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They had earlier resolved not to return to work until government addressed the total take over of the frontage of the hospital by private developers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VTikPfOUwuFGIWuKAVDcWSYmSciJv4tQ”]Speaking to the press , the Minister of Health, Mr. Agyyeman Manu indicated that, government has an interest in the Hospital land. He said government has asked the owner of the land to halt construction until the matter is resolved.

Workers of the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital stepped up their protest against government by staging a demonstration today [Wednesday].

They were demanding government takes immediate steps to stop private developers from encroaching on their lands.

An employee of the hospital who spoke to Citi News’ Zoe Abu Baidoo, said: “A lot of people are encroaching on our lands and I think it is high time we demonstrate for the government to hear our plea. If we don’t demonstrate how will the government hear us? A lot of them sell alcoholic beverages and you know it is a psychiatric hospital and we are preventing some of the patients from these beverages…”

Another said: “we need space to develop the hospital. ”

On Monday, dozens of patients who reported to the Pantang Hospital  were turned away as staff of the facility embarked on a sit-down strike.

Some of the patients were left helpless as they loitered the premises of the hospital, hoping to be attended to.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Pantang Hospital staff call off strike appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The staff had earlier served notice of their intended strike, and insist that they will lay down their tools and hit the streets if the situation isn’t addressed by Wednesday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HfGgclkNBXsAAqUBRfSXwcvktBZqUsEA”]The head of the staff at the hospital, Elvis Akuamoah, told Citi News that no intent to deal with the situation has been shown by the authorities hence their decision to proceed with their strike

“Today,[Monday], we are starting our sit-down strike and if by Wednesday we don’t hear anything from the appropriate authorities, we are embarking on a demonstration after which we stay out of work until further notice, until this issue is resolved.”

He reiterated his fear that the activities of the encroachers would compromise security at the hospital and put the lives of the health practitioners and patients at risk

“If not checked, we’ll have a situation where someone will build a clubhouse just opposite a ward which would impact negatively on the environment the patients need to be able to receive proper care. We are doing this for our patients.”

Elvis Akuamoah told Citi News on Saturday that their concerns have not been addressed despite their complaints and efforts by the top hierarchy of the hospital.

“Despite the efforts of hospital management to have the issue addressed, we as staff do not see any efforts to curb the situation. All we see is rapid degradation of the land at the frontage of the hospital and development of permanent structures for residence and business purposes at the expense of security for both staff and patients of this institution,” he stated in an address to the media.

“Staff of the hospital will start a sit down strike from Monday, July 10, and we’ll follow it with a halt of the operations of the hospital from Wednesday, July 12, and then hit the streets if no action is taken to address the situation, and continue to stay away from the hospital until we see a resolution to the problem.”

The workers along with some residents in the area had issued a two-week ultimatum to the government in March to halt the encroachment of the lands.

They appealed to the President to heed their plea and order the encroachment of their lands to be stopped.

“The lands have all been sold; even the churches have bought some. They have blocked all the pathways and have been making our lives miserable. We are not allowed to move freely anymore. We are pleading with the president, if these lands really belong to the state then government has to take them back.”

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com Ghana

.

The post Pantang Hospital staff to begin sit-down strike today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The staff have also served notice that they will down tools and hit the streets if the situation isn’t addressed by Wednesday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7TPcsBU7PmvIcVq0asQRyw3aXDUEl7uD”]The head of the staff at the hospital, Elvis Akuamoah, stated that the activities of the encroachers had compromised security at the hospital and put the lives of the health practitioners and patients at risk.

According to him, the situation had not seen any improvements despite complaints from them and efforts of the top hierarchy of the hospital.

“Despite the efforts of hospital management to have the issue addressed, we as staff do not see any results to curb the situation. All we see is rapid degradation of the land at the frontage of the hospital and development of permanent structures for residence and business purposes at the cost of security for both staff and patients of this institution,” he stated in an address to the media.

“Staff of the hospital will start a sit down strike from Monday, July 10 and we’ll follow it with a halt of the operations of the hospital from Wednesday, July 12 and then hit th streets if no action has been taken to address the situation and continue to stay away from the hospital until we see a resolution to the problem.”

The workers along with some residents in the area had issued a two-week ultimatum to the government in March to halt the encroachment of the lands.

They appealed to the President to heed their pleas and order the encroachment of their lands to be stopped

“The lands have all been sold; even the churches have bought some. They have blocked all the pathways and have been making our lives miserable. We are not allowed to move freely anymore. We are pleading with the president, if these lands really belong to the state then government has to take it back.”

–

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com Ghana

.

The post Pantang Hospital staff threaten sit down strike on Monday appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The members of the group, who accused various institutions including the La-Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly of neglect, described the takeover of the hospital’s land as alarming.

Speaking to Citi News, the Convener of the Concerned Group of Pantang, Nana Boamah, said it was necessary for immediate action to be taken to protect the lands.

“Last year. we began, his agitation to have the hospital reclaim its lands because some individuals claim they bought the land from some family members whilst others claim they have a judgment on the land.”

“Professor Badu Akosa wrote to the Lands Commission and they came with a response demarcating the limits and size of the Pantang land in 2006, but parts of the lands which were earmarked are being encroached on. So in the next two weeks, if the stakeholders including the Ministry and the Assembly don’t come in to stop this thing, then we have to pour out on the street in a massive way.  Even if it means getting the patients involved, we will do that.”

Some angry staff and residents who also spoke to Citi News said, the building of homes on the land will not only undermine the security of Ghana’s second largest psychiatric hospital, but will also endanger the lives of the new owners.

“It doesn’t make sense for government to buy a land and give part of it to private individuals. But if government has, then they need to take it back. These new buildings are going to block the vantage point of the hospital, what do we do in emergency cases. With the new structures too, there will be so many new entrances into the hospital, how do we protect the inmates and these people,” an agitated employee added.

The residents called on the President, Akufo-Addo, to as a matter of urgency come to the aid of the Hospital before more lands are taken.

“The lands have all been sold; even the churches have bought some. They have blocked all the pathways and have been making our lives miserable. We are not allowed to move freely anymore. We are pleading with the president, if these lands really belong to the state then government has to take it back.”

–

By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t asked to halt encroachment on Pantang hospital lands appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr.Micheal Brennan, a Scottish-Irish Philanthropist, assisted the Pantang Hospital with the refurbishment of the ward which was in a deplorable state.

[contextly_sidebar id=”VhLRnCUhRkEiVEi70aaVFZNn0NoLzu3M”]Other facilities that were refurbished were the dining hall, nurses station, observation room, visitors and inmate rooms, seclusion room, wash rooms, manager’s office and cafeteria.

In a speech read on his behalf, Dr. Brennan said: “During my two periods at Pantang in 2011 and 2014, I was deeply moved by the hospitality and welcome given me by all the staff.

“We met with all the staff and saw the difficulties and challenges that they encounter as they tried to deliver the best care possible,” he said.

Dr Frank Baning, the Acting Director of the Pantang Hospital, said he was overwhelmed by the kind gesture of Dr Brennan in championing the cause of the hospital.

He expressed gratitude to Dr Brennan for his initiative, efforts, support and passion towards the refurbishment of the facility.

He commended all those who had contributed in diverse ways to support the work, especially the members from St Antioch’s Parish in Scotland, people of Ireland, and the school priest and pupils from Saint Nicholas Catholic Primary in Broxburn, Scotland.

Dr Banning also commended Dr Anna P. Dzadey, a former Medical Director of the hospital, for his enormous support towards the refurbishment.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Peter Anim, the Ward Three Manager, said the refurbishment meant a lot for the ward and that the new environment would help improve the health conditions of inmates.

“This new change that has come has really raised our morals,” he said.

–

Source: GNA

The post Philanthropist refurbishes parts of Pantang Hospital appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Accra based radio station burst onto the media scene 10 years ago as an underdog and has risen to become a major player in the industry under the leadership of Samual Attah-Mensah. The Citi FM boss will be on the show to talk about the philosophy underpinning the stations’ staggering success over the years.

Also on the show is the team that holds our mornings captive with their exciting, unique and opinionated Citi Breakfast Show, the city’s biggest conversation.

The gang of  5 CITIzens –  led by the purposeful and intelligent Bernard Avle,  and made up of hard-balling Richard Dela Sky, no-nonsense Nana Ama Agyemang Asante,  sports guru Godfred Akoto Boafo and  Johny-come-lately Kojo Akoto Boateng – will sit down with KSM to reveal what makes the show tick!

Of course the episode would not be complete without our regular culprits,  The Three Wisemen,  Dzimtiri and Queeny, who will all keep you laughing throughout the show.

So tune in to Metro TV this Friday at 8:30pm for yet another great episode of  The KSM Show, Citi Style…….Chaley!

Follow the KSM Show on twitter https://twitter.com/KSM_Kwaku_Misa and like the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theksmshow.

Source: The KSM Show

The post Citi Style on the KSM Show…charley! appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.