Simmering Tensions At KATH…Nurses To Protest Over Alleged Appointment of Unqualified NDC Activist.

Nurses at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are expressing deep dissatisfaction with the hospital’s Board of Directors, chaired by Oheneba Boachie Adjei.

The tension stems from an alleged attempt to appoint Comfort Asoglo, a nurse and known activist for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to the position of Director of Nursing Services (DNS), despite her reported lack of requisite qualifications and experience.

The incumbent DNS is scheduled for retirement.

Customary procedure dictates that the position should be publicly advertised, allowing all qualified nurses to apply and undergo a competitive interview process before a final selection is made.

However, sources indicate that before this transparent process could be completed, the KATH Board Chairman allegedly issued a letter explicitly instructing management to hand over the position to Madam Asoglo, whom people describe as an “NDC power broker and influence peddler.”

This purported directive is being viewed not only as an unusual overreach by the Board Chairman but also as a direct contravention of established appointment regulations.

Backlash and Maneuvering:

Following significant internal backlash against the Board Chairman’s controversial decision, management reportedly advised that all previous applicants who failed to secure the position during the last vacancy period should reapply and prepare for an interview.

Nevertheless, this reporter has been reliably informed that the application and interview processes may be merely a cosmetic exercise, as the Board, led by Oheneba Boachie Adjei, has allegedly already settled on Comfort Asoglo as its preferred candidate.

Qualifications and Concerns:

Current regulations at KATH stipulate that candidates qualified for the DNS position must typically be senior officers, PhD holders, or existing directors within one of the hospital’s directorates.

The Board and NDC’s purported candidate, Comfort Asoglo, is currently only a Principal Nursing Officer (PNO) at the Oncology Unit under the Child Health Directorate, raising serious questions about her eligibility.

The situation is further complicated by an alleged orchestration to ensure her appointment in a mind boggling” and “corrupt enterprise”.

The Board is alleged to have backdated Madam Asoglo’s promotion to PNO to 2018.

This maneuver is allegedly intended to artificially enhance her credentials, ensuring she secures the DNS role at all costs.

Broader Political Interference:

Beyond the DNS controversy, there are claims that the NDC-aligned Board is actively attempting to install additional party loyalists within the facility’s management structure to influence operations at the premier health institution.

Investigations reveal that the Board has requested the appointment of two NDC members as deputy directors of pharmacy.

This decision is reportedly not only contrary to laid-down operational procedures but also an unprecedented intrusion into KATH’s traditional management structure, where only Management can recommend candidates for top-level appointments.

Power Play at the Top

Information reaching this news desk suggests that the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is overwhelmed by administrative duties and has become susceptible to influence from unnamed party figures.

It is widely reported that Madam Comfort Asoglo, despite her rank as a Principal Nursing Officer, currently wields significant informal power, allegedly controlling various administrative affairs, including the allocation of accommodation in the nurses’ flats and quarters.

Planned Petition and Demonstration:

In response to these developments, members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) at KATH are planning to formally petition their national umbrella body regarding the ongoing administrative irregularities.

Furthermore, the group intends to carry out sit-down strikes and public demonstrations until the Board and Management commit to and implement transparent administrative procedures for all appointments at KATH.

More details on this developing story will be provided.

Story By Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.