The Ministry of Health says it has not received any lawsuit from the former director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Thomas Anaba.
This follows a confirmation from the Mr. Anaba that his lawyers have sued the state for the wrongful termination of his contract.
The suit which was seen by Citi News asked the Court to declare that the decision of the Minister of Health was unlawful and therefore null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
It also asked the Ministry to reinstate, Mr. Anaba as the Medical Director and prohibit the Health Minister and any other person from taking any unreasonable or unfair decision against the applicant.
But speaking Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Robert Cudjoe said the Ministry will determine its next line of action once it receives the lawsuit. “I went to the hospital yesterday and there was no letter . I went to administration and I was told there was no letter but we have heard from the media that he has sued us.
I have checked yesterday, legal section, administration and we have not ereceived any letter. Monday when we go to the office and we receive a letter, we will read the content and accordingly respond.”
Background 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.”
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