The Ghana Health Service (GHS) Headquarters at Tema Station, Accra, is embroiled in controversy as concerned staff and stakeholders accuse the Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, of colluding with officials from the outgoing government to sell the property to private developers.
In a strongly worded statement, the GHS staff expressed outrage over what they described as “unlawful and unethical” attempts to grab the land. The situation, they claim, has escalated following the December 7 general elections and the announcement of John Dramani Mahama as President-elect.
According to the staff, efforts to sell the property began earlier this year under questionable circumstances. Dr Kuma-Aboagye is alleged to have intensified pressure on staff to vacate the premises and relocate to Pantang, a facility originally designed as an isolation centre for infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The Pantang Centre, they noted, was funded by the World Bank as part of Ghana’s strategy to strengthen its capacity to manage pandemics.
“Starting Monday, pressure on GHS staff has reached intolerable levels, with directives issued for all staff to vacate their offices by the end of next week. Shockingly, we have received reliable information that the building will be demolished next week to pave the way for a private developer, who now claims to own the place, to commence construction,” portions of the statement read.
“This reckless and high-handed action not only disregards the welfare and operational needs of GHS staff but also undermines the integrity and reputation of the Service. It is an outright betrayal of public trust and a blatant abuse of power by those entrusted to safeguard our national assets. This has raised concerns among partners and stakeholders in the health sector, the development partners such as WHO, UNICEF, USAID and the World Bank which is the main funding agency for this centre.”
The staff are calling on the Joint Transition Team and other relevant authorities to intervene immediately and halt what they described as an “outrageous land-grabbing scheme.”
“If these unlawful activities are not stopped, it will set a dangerous precedent that endangers not only the Ghana Health Service but other public institutions as well.”
They also vowed to resist attempts to sell off the property of the Ghana Health Service.
“We will not stand idly by while the Service’s resources and property are sold off to satisfy the greed and personal interests of a few individuals. If this matter is not addressed with the urgency and seriousness it demands, we, the concerned staff of the Ghana Health Service, will have no choice but to escalate our resistance and take all necessary measures to protect the property and integrity of the Service.”
“Let it be known that we will not be silenced, intimidated, or coerced into surrendering what rightfully belongs to the Ghana Health Service and, by extension, the people of Ghana. The authorities must act now to stop this injustice before it is too late.”
