He is however seeking an order from the court declaring that the decision of the Minister of Health “was unlawful and therefore null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

The former Ridge hospital boss is also seeking an order reinstating him as the Medical Director of the Ridge hospital as well as an order prohibiting the Health Minister and any other person “from taking any unreasonable, unfair, unjust and capricious decision against the applicant.”

Background

[contextly_sidebar id=”aptK5alVX6T85iWjlDwkGqEFfzvIrGJd”]Dr. Anaba was about two weeks ago given a letter directing him to handover to the Public Services Commission three years short of the expiration of his tenure.

He is expected to return to his former workplace at the University of Development Studies.

Although no reasons were given, the letter said the directive was from the Health Minister who has subsequently appointed Dr. Anaba’s predecessor, Emmanuel Kwabla Srofenyoh.

But Dr. Anaba has vowed not to relinquish his post.

In his writ, Dr. Anaba argued in his reassignment was “unlawful because the Minister [of Health] lacked legal authority to effect the release of the Applican from his position as Medical Director of the Greater Accra Regional, Hospital, Ridge.”

According to him, the directive from the Ministry was “unfair and unreasonable and does not comply with the requirement of the Constitution and the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act, 1996 (Act 525 with respect to the appointment and removal of staff of the Ghana Health Service.

He also insisted that “the purported action of the Minister in the letter dated May 10, 2017 constitutes an abuse of power as it amounts to a constructive dismissal of the applicant without just cause in contravention of article 191 (b) of the Constitution.”

Dr. Anaba in the writ further insisted that the action by the Minister also “breached the legitimate expectations of the applicant that the terms of conditions of his appointment as Medical Director would be respected by the Ghana Health Service, his employer.”

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

The post Former Ridge Hospital boss sues gov’t over transfer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The hospital referred to the as the Greater Accra Regional Hospital was built by the Mahama administration with a $250 million credit facility from the US Exim bank and HSBC Bank.

John Mahama inaugurated the first phase of the project in November 2016 but the hospital remained closed.

Following the opening of the 420-bed facility by the Health Minister, some 47 patients had the opportunity to experienced health care at the hospital.

Official records say 3 patients in critical condition were revived at the emergency ward, while 20 received care at the pediatric department.

14 others received care at the family medicine department.

The Minister of Health at the opening of the facility indicated that government will seek funds to complete phase two of the project.

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

The post Greater Accra Regional Hospital finally operational [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to a statement signed by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa, Communications Director at the Office of the former president “No lease agreement was reached with the government” on the matter despite he expressing interest in same.

Reports in the media show letters exchanged between the former president and the lands commission, which said the then President, John Dramani Mahama in May 2016, directed it [Lands Commission] to give Mr. Rawlings 4.368 acres of land situated along the Seko Toure Street, Ridge Residential Area in Accra at a lease of GHc10 per annum for 99 years.

One of the letters from the Lands Commission said the request was granted pursuant to “recommendations in the report of the commission on presidential emoluments, with regards to emolument of former presidents.”

“This offer is made pursuant to the recommendations in the report of the commission on presidential emoluments with regard to emolument of former presidents of the Republic of Ghana. You will be required to take a lease of ninety-nine (99) years with effect from the 1st day of May, 2016 at a peppercorn rent of Ten Ghana Cedis (GHc10.00) per annum commencing 1st May, 2016. The rent shall not be subject to revision throughout the entire duration of the lease” one of the letter said.

The report further stated that, Mr. Rawlings who expressed gratitude for the parcel of land further asked for more land to enable him expand a project for his foundation.

“Due to the significant infrastructure demands that will come with the project and the fact that one intends to conform to the single and two storey structures within the vicinity, I kindly request that additional lands as shown in blue in the attached document, be added to the allocation. This will allow for the creation of enough space not only for the Foundation’s structure, but adequate space for staff and visitors to the facility,” one of the letters added.

But the statement from the office of Mr. Rawlings said his subsequent request received a delayed approval from government, hence there was no agreement yet on the matter.

“Unfortunately, the response dated May 9, 2016, received no reply till 12th December, 2016, when the Secretary to the President, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, discovered the letter ‘misplaced among’ his papers and wrote to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to act upon,” the statement added.

This revelation comes out at a time when immediate past President John Mahama, has come under fire for seeking to convert his official residence into his retirement home.

Mr. John Mahama

Below is the full statement from office of Rawlings:

RE: ALLOCATION OF PLOT TO H.E. JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS

Our attention has been drawn to information currently in the public domain of communication between The Lands Commission and His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings, former President of the Republic

As per the content of the said communication, a plot was allocated to His Excellency Rawlings for the purposes of the establishment of the Rawlings Foundation.

Upon receipt of the notification, His Excellency replied to the said directive and requested for adjoining lands to the said property also for the purposes of the Foundation, which he intends to dedicate to humanitarian, educational, population control, HIV AIDS, health related projects, the preservation of nature and the promotion and preservation of cultural values.

Unfortunately, the response dated May 9, 2016, received no reply till 12th December, 2016, when the Secretary to the President, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey discovered the letter ‘misplaced among’ his papers and wrote to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to act upon.

No lease agreement was thus reached with the government.

Signed:

Kobina Andoh Amoakwa

(Communications Directorate)

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Rawlings needed land for Foundation, not for personal use – Aide appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The former President following a massive public uproar withdrew his request for retaining the bungalow at Cantonments and an official office accomodation at Ridge.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cHKDY5Csn3d2pl58kIZESAG7uasZr9vH”]Correspondence from the former president suggest that the NPP government agreed for him to keep the bungalow; an impression government communicators had rejected.

Meanwhile, speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme; The Big Issue on Saturday, Casely-Hayford said the NPP is withholding some information from the public.

“All I am reading and hearing…is that somewhere along the line some agreement must have been cut. Something was negotiated because I don’t think that the president will actually write a letter referring to an agreement between him and the incoming president and it being totally false. It can’t be totally false, there has to be some truth in it for him to make reference to.”

“My point is that there is some connivance and there is a point where we are not being given the whole truth of the matter. This is from the government side. I think in this particular instance they are withholding truth because of repercussions. It just doesn’t make any logical sense that president Mahama will sit down and forge an agreement and refer to an agreement that never existed and say I am withdrawing my request,” he argued.

When asked possible reason for the NPP’s position by host of The Big Issue, Umaru Sanda Amadu, Mr. Casely-Hayford blamed the issue on the outcry on social media.

“All I can say is after the story broke out and they felt the backlash particularly on social media and how people were thinking about this whole issue they decided to do a U-turn, they had to figure out a way of covering in up,” he noted.

Mahama’s request unnecessary

But the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko said on The Big Issue that Mahama’s request was uneccessary.

“It was unnecessary for John Mahama to make the request for a specific house…A president should not make a choice to live anywhere unless it’s their own house,” he added.

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

The post NPP being untruthful over Mahama bungalow saga – Casely Hayford appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.