The 37 Military Hospital in Accra, which is one of the finest military health facilities in Africa, is sitting on a time bomb, The Chronicle can authoritatively report.
Though the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which manages the facility, is seen as one of the corruption free institutions in Ghana, the decision to sit on cash that had already been released for both Military and civilian workers of the hospital, remains a Gordian Knot that must be united.
Pieces of information gathered by The Chronicle indicate that some of the workers (both military and civilian), are mad with the military high Command and a female military officer who is being described as an Iron Lady by some of the soldiers and the civilian workers for failing to pay them the arrears of their Market Premium.
The money, which reportedly hovers around GH˘70,000,000 with each worker expecting around GH˘7,000 was released from the government treasury in the early part of this year, for onward transmission to them.
Documentary evidence sighted by The Chronicle indicate that the Department of Medical Service at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces upon the receipt of the arrears from the central government, wrote a letter directing the pay office to pay the over thousand staff of 37 Hospital, who are beneficiaries of the arrears.
The letter, with reference number GHQ/9033/A/MED, and signed by Col. Vida Otoo, director of nursing on behalf of the Acting Director General reads: “Attached, please find approved review of Grades for launderers and superintendents and reviewed market premium for health assistants for CSO’S Authority. Submitted please for further action.”
Though the Commanding Officer, Matron, Deputy Matron, General Manager in charge of administration among a host of other signed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter directing that the arrears be cleared immediately, the soldiers and the civilian workers have still not been paid the money.
Some of the workers who spoke to The Chronicle on strict condition of anonymity noted that this is not the first time the issue of that nature has cropped up.
According to them, when the Single Spine Pay Policy was introduced at the initial stages, they encountered similar problem.
The workers told The Chronicle that their leaders in most of the cases used the money that is legitimately due them to buy treasury bills and other short term investment and make huge profits before the money is finally released.
Efforts made by The Chronicle to contact the Director of Public Affairs of the GAF, Col Mbawine Atintande to comment on the issue proved futile as he failed to answer calls put through to his cell phone on two different days.
Atintande, however, told The Chronicle in 2011 that there was no way any senior officer could use soldiers’ money to buy treasury bills and that it would never happen.
Source: The Chronicle
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