Ghana�s extraordinary heart surgeon and former boss of the Cardio-thoracic Centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has been declared persona non grata at the premier teaching hospital.
In a telephone conversation with Daily Guide on Wednesday, the heart surgeon complained that a few days ago, he went to the Cardio centre to retrieve some of his personal files, but was blocked by security details who said they were acting on �orders from above�.
The clearly surprised heart surgeon told Daily Guide: �When I got there, three security men met me at the staircase and said they had been told by the security department of Korle Bu to prevent me from taking any file away from Korle Bu.�
This is the second time Ghana�s most influential heart surgeon has been harassed at the Cardio-centre which he personally set up decades ago to render professional cardio services to patients from the country and from sub-Saharan Africa.
In August last year, he was unceremoniously sacked as head of the centre by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) through the former Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh. The government did not give any reason for sacking him.
Apparently, the cardio surgeon was going to retrieve his personal files from the Heart Foundation, a non-profit organization he personally set up for Korle Bu to aid patients with critical heart conditions. When he was sacked in 2011, he was barely given the chance to pack his personal effects.
�I was going for my file and personal things, so I was very surprised. The security men were very polite. They said �professor, we know you, you brought us up, we don�t see ourselves frustrating you, but that is what we have been told�,� he told this newspaper.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng said he was surprised by the directive, �so I went to Korle Bu�s head of security who also referred to a directive from the management of the cardio centre that I should be prevented.�
He has since lodged a complaint at the Korle Bu Police Station over the arbitrary directive.
African Hero
Professor Frimpong-Boateng is regarded as an �African Hero� because he is the foremost heart surgeon on the southern side of the Sahara Desert. He studied in Germany and his exemplary talents attracted the Germans who wanted to retain him in that country to continue his practice. However, a couple of decades ago, he left Germany because according to him, he would feel more fulfilled to render his services to Ghanaians and Africans who are starved of heart surgeons.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng set up the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and through his efforts and personal financial contribution, constructed the ultra-modern Cardio-centre which is hailed as one of the best on the continent.
He is regarded by almost all the budding heart surgeons at Korle Bu as their role model, and they continue to consult him when they are faced with difficult cardio-situations. In February 2012, Professor Frimpong-Boateng was honoured with the 2012 edition of the African Heroes Award.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng�s problems with the current NDC government started when he declared his political ambition on the ticket of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
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