The ministers and board members in a group photograph
A 10-member board, headed by Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku in Accra, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has been inaugurated by the Minister of Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, to steer the affairs of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
The absence of the board has partly been blamed on the recent challenges facing the health facility. The inauguration follows the nomination of 10 persons by President Akufo-Addo to serve on the board.
The members are Prof. Margaret Lartey, Dean, School of Medicine and Dentistry; Dr. Samuel Asiamah, Director of Medical Affairs/Ag. CEO; Nurudeen Mohammed, Director of Administration; Rita Aryee, Director of Nursing Services; Bright Korkoryie, Director of Finance; and Elizabeth Bruce, Director of Pharmacy.
The rest are Dr. Radha Maria Odua Hackman, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, and Dr. Patrina Tekyi-Ankrah – all government appointees.
Swearing in the board, Mr. Agyeman Manu said the assembling of the board members showed they have some attributes or qualities that made them capable of performing with satisfaction to the benefit of Ghanaians.
He said Korle-Bu has been the premium referrals facility but things have gone down a little bit recently with the hospital being in the news for the wrong reasons.
He was however optimistic the constitution of the new board which was long overdue would facilitate the addressing of issues facing the premiere health facility.
“When you find yourself in crises, that is when you even think best and I believe with you now here, over the next few months, we will fight the challenges we have,” he said.
The sector minister who was accompanied by his two deputies said “although the challenge of lack of resources has been highlighted, whether we have resources or not, we have this facility and we cannot ask our patients (the sick people) to go home and die”.
Board chairman, Dr. Okoe Boye, thanked the Lord Almighty and President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity given the members of KBTH board.
He gave the assurance that the board would work to ensure best practice is maintained at the health facility.
The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is among the very few premier health-care facilities in Ghana. Having operated for over 90 years, the hospital is still faced with several challenges including inadequate beds.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri