Members of the Korle-Bu Senior Staff Association (KOSSA) and other staff of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) yesterday had to call off their planned demonstration following management’s disapproval of the action.
The demonstration, scheduled to take place at the hospital’s premises, was in solidarity with the interdicted KOSSA President, Charles Offei Palm, which sources at the hospital claimed has been sacked and to demand his immediate reinstatement.
KOSSA had earlier notified management of the planned demonstration in a letter dated April 18, 2016, however, management in a reply letter dated April 20, 2016 and signed by the Director of Administration, Nuru-Deen Mohammed, indicated that the intended demonstration was uncalled for as KOSSA is a voluntary association and its activities should, therefore, not disrupt services of the hospital.
“Management takes seriously KOSSA and its individual member’s repeated acts which disrupt services and create undue tension in the hospital as well as negatively affecting public confidence in the ability of the hospital to meet their needs,” the letter stated.
The letter further stated that should the planned demonstration be on account of grievances of KOSSA and individual employees and management, “the individual employees involved are being reminded to follow the established grievances procedure of the hospital.
It continued… “Should the intended demonstration be on account of matters not related to KBTH then KOSSA and the individual employees involved do not have the permission of the hospital to embark on the demonstration on the premises of the KBTH.”
James Clifford Oblitey, KOSSA general secretary, who spoke with DAILY GUIDE, said the demonstration had to be called off as a result of staff intimidation by the hospital management.
“Instead of harnessing the human resource potentials of the hospital to attain its mission, vision and the objectives of the hospital, they are rather harassing, intimidating and victimising staff,” he said.
Mr Oblitey disclosed that the association had noticed that the hospital’s performance indicators were abysmal due to misplaced priorities, mismanagement and failure to complement government effort by the board and management, adding, “KOSSA will continue to blow the whistle on the mismanagement of the hospital and scarce funds until the right things are done in the hospital by persons appointed by government.”
Earlier Demonstration
KOSSA earlier this month embarked on a demonstration to demand the reinstatement of their president who was interdicted for his comments about misappropriation of funds at the health facility.
Members of KOSSA during the demonstration justified the comments made by Mr Ofei-Palm in reaction to the Auditor General’s report which indicted the hospital for some financial mismanagement.
Mr Ofei-Palm said in his comments that the hospital was almost on his knees as it was about collapsing under the watch of the CEO Dr Gilbert Buckle and Prof Anthony Mawuli Sallah, the board chairman.
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