The Health Ministry says the transfer of the Medical Director of Ridge Hospital, Dr Thomas Awuni Anaba to another facility is part of the normal public service procedure.
Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Robert Cudjoe explained nothing improper was done when the Ministry issued a transfer letter to Dr Anaba.
He told Roland Walker on the AM Show on Multi TV Monday, the Ridge Hospital Medical Director has to obey the instruction in the letter.
“This is normal since Nkrumah’s time…if you follow our makeup politics…even in the Bible that’s how it is,” he said.
Dr Anaba has refused to vacate his position, saying the Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu has no right to transfer him as was done last Wednesday. He was first dismissed, but that was changed to a transfer.
He said, “the only person who can terminate my appointment is Ghana Health Council…I still have three years.”
Dr Anaba said he will not obey it because it is “an illegal, floored administrative” error on the part of the Health Minister.
The Ghana Health Service has appointed Dr Emmanuel Srophenyoh as Acting Medical Director, to replace Dr Anaba who has threatened to sue government over the decision.
Labour expert, Austin Gamey told Joy News it was inappropriate for the Minister to have issued the letter.
“Normally it is not the best way to do it because it is a Public Service and therefore we have institutions that handle that,” the former politician has said.
He said the Health Minister was ill-advised to have transferred Dr Anaba espcially when the laid down procedure was not followed.
But the Health Ministry has maintained it did the right thing by transferring the Ridge Hospital Medical Director to the University of Development Studies (UDS) Medical School.
Mr Cudjoe said as an employee of the Ministry, Dr Anaba is bound to respect the decision of his employer.
He said he obeyed when a month and two weeks ago, he was directed to head to the Health Ministry from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department where he was serving as the Head of Public Relations.
According to him, until Dr Anaba succeeds with his suit against the government over the decision, he ceases to be the head of the Ridge Hospital.
“I don’t think we have seen a hospital that has two heads,” he said, adding Dr Anaba will vacate his position because of the psychological trauma he will be plunged into.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
