The Senior Staff Association of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has called for the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Gilbert Buckle, over alleged mismanagement of hospital funds.
According to the association, the CEO had spent more than GH¢100 million on judgement debts which were paid to some staff who were wrongfully dismissed, causing financial loss to the hospital.
It also alleged that the CEO’s personal travels were being paid for withfunds generated from the hospital, while the Central Pharmacy of the hospital was under-resourced.
The President of the association, Mr Charles Nii Ofei-Palm, made the call when the members met to discuss issues bothering the association and the management of the hospital in Accra Wednesday.
Last year, the association embarked on series of protests and agitations which led to the removal of the immediate past CEO, Rev. Dr Albert O. Botchway, and the immediate past Board Chairman, Mr Edward Annan.
The association accused the then CEO and the board chair of multiple allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Dr Buckle was consequently appointed the CEO of the hospital by President John Mahama after their exit.
This time again, the association has alleged that the CEO is mismanaging hospital funds and causing financial loss to the hospital.
“We thought our revolution would have ended the mismanagement of the hospital and herald Korle Bu into a new era of proper accountability, probity and transparency. The current situation is even worse than we know with the hospital. Currently the hospital is sinking,” Mr Ofei-Palm said.
According to him, although a friendly letter was sent to the Board Chair, Prof. Mawuli Sallar, about the issues raised by the association in June, 2015, no action was taken.
He said the association was disappointed in the board chair, whom they thought would be on top of issues considering his background from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Mr Ofei-Palm claimed that the hospital had to pay judgement debt due to ‘irresponsible’ administrative practices which led to contempt cases against the hospital.
“The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has not finished its investigations but the hospital is in a hurry to victimise staff and that has led to financial loss to the hospital,” he stated.
Mr Ofei-Palm further alleged that an ‘outrageous and illegal conditions of service’ for the CEO had been approved by the board without recourse to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.
He, therefore, called for investigations into the conditions of service for the CEO, alleging further that he had scrapped some benefits of medical assistants, while he (Dr Buckle) was enjoying his conditions of service.
He also alleged that the CEO was abusing his power for refusing to return to the Ministry of Health two cars which were bought for two directors who had already been allocated vehicles.
When contacted on the issue, the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr Mustapha Salifu, said the hospital would not comment.
