Prof Ernest Aryeetey has resigned from the Board of the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
The $217million health post has been a white elephant for over a year although the first phase of construction has been completed and ready for use.
There is currently a struggle between the Ministry of Health and the University over who manages the facility.
The health post was registered in the name of Prof Aryeetey and Project Manager Prof Aaron Nii Lante Lawson at the Registrar General’s Department. It has former Deputy Minister Rojo Mettle Nunoo as a member of the Board of Directors.
Prof Aryeetey explained to the media that the University Council authorised him and Prof Lawson to front for the registration of the hospital since when registering companies, there is the need to provide the names of the directors.
Prof Aryeetey’s explanation follows comments by Deputy Minister of Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, that: “It will shock Ghanaians to hear that a limited liability company such as the facility has been registered in the names of Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey and one Prof. Aaron Nii Lante Lawson in their respective names.”
Asked on Wednesday on Starr FM if he would relinquish his directorship if that is what it would take for the hospital to start operating, Prof Aryeetey said: “I have already stepped down, I stepped down as director a long time ago, last year; of course, I know that my position made a number of people uncomfortable and I’ve already stepped down.
“I didn’t want anybody to have an excuse that because of Ernest Aryeetey, we can’t get this hospital going; I stepped down, nobody compelled me to step down, I did it on my own,” he told Starr FM.
He continued: “In fact, as far back as early last year, I wrote to Prof Lawson to say that I was quitting the board; in fact I could see what was coming.
“Look, most of what is playing out today began months ago, and I saw it coming, I didn’t want to be part of it, you think I’m enjoying talking to you on radio about a hospital that should have been functioning? No, I’m not enjoying it.
“When I retired, I thought I was going to sit home quietly, play with my grandchildren and be thinking about what I want to write in my memoirs, I didn’t think I would be spending every day explaining to journalists, explaining to the people of Ghana that I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.
Prof Aryeetey insists that he stands by every decision he took vis-à-vis the hospital when he was vice chancellor. “When I took decisions, they were always with the backing of the University Council.”
“What I find interesting”, Prof Aryeetey noted, “is that the issue between the Ministry of Health and the University of Ghana should not be personalised, and, yet, the minister and his deputy have sought to personalise and draw me into it hoping to get some mileage in terms of whatever they are interested in. But I take it in good faith, I’m a Ghanaian like everybody else, what I’ve done, I’m very proud of, there’s nothing I did as a vice chancellor that I’m not proud of.
According to him, “all it will take is for the Ministry of Health to comply with the MoU, that’s all, it’s as simple as that. Comply with the MoU. The MoU provides that the government of Ghana, through regular subvention, will take care of this hospital for the first five years, after these five years, the hospital should be able to stand on its own, pay its staff, pay for consumables, pay for maintenance, pay for anything that any company should be able to do.”
Source: classfmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Ghana with the NPP have chosen to rewrite things which have been sealed and they should wait when controversy rears its head they would have nowhere to pass. This 217 million dollars project and instead allowing it to run you are fighting over management. This is turning in ABSURDITY PLUS PLUS.
Ghanaian journalist are nothing but a mistake of human existence. Prof resigned last year and you make seems that it was yesterday that he resigned. What is all this. Why can't we tell the truth as people. Your own article betrays you “In fact, as far back as early last year, I wrote to Prof Lawson to say that I was quitting the board; in fact I could see what was coming"
I think people don't understand how universities work,shows the level of understanding of some Ghanaians.All university hospitals in developed countries are run by the university.If we want to remain in third world mentality then let the government thru ministry of health run it and I bet u in 10 years it will be in the state of koee bu and 37 hospital.
Citizens we need to demand of those in authority. The lazy days are over. Bye bye literate Prof. So now who is illiterate? Prof tell us.
By his resignation, it proves that after all, the Deputy Minister is no illiterate. You cannot use your professorship to bully the system.
I don't trust this Prof Aryeetey man.... He is hiding something from the public. It does not make sense for the Min of Health to pay the salaries of the workers at the hospital which you guys at Legon claim you own... The University must pay the workers salary then.
HAHAHAHAHA IF THE KITCHEN IS HOT FOR YOU.GO OUT......
it's good he goes off the board. it appears he and other implicated individuals were up to something mischievous. and when their cover was blown this prof. aryeetey turned round and called the dep. minister as having an 'illiterate knowledge' of the fact, such arrogance. now that he is gone a lot of information will be revealed to the public. shameful intellectuals!
Government of the greedy, by the greedy, for the greedy.
If the University thinks the Hospital is for them, then they should be responsible for the payment of staff salaries within the new hospital. You cannot claim the Hospital is for you; the University and then expect the ministry of Health to be responsible for payment of staff salaries. That makes no sense. Hand the Hospital to the Ministry, then they will be responsible for payment of salaries.