Walter Reed Hospital (US) Medical Equipment Donated To Korle-Bu has been diverted by Ghana Embassy Staff In Washington D.C

June 16, 2014
It was a ceremony in USA (USA AID) was part of it.2011.

In 2011, the Walter Reed Military Hospital... in Washington D.C. which closed down its premises in the Washington D.C. decided to donate their medical equipment to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana. Part of this medical equipment was intended to complete the two North-American-Standard neurosurgery operating rooms that were expected to be opened at KTH in Accra. Dr. Paul King, an Executive Member of Walter Reed Military Hospital and Dr. Patrick Banka, Neurosurgeon of KBTH were instrumental in securing this medical equipment.

The whole equipment which was valued at 20 million US dollars was being donated to Ghana and Liberia. They needed a bio-medical engineer to recalibrate the equipment before shipment. According to Pentagon humanitarian affairs 'The equipment were meant to be shipped to KBTH'. The Coca- Cola Company was assisting in the shipment of the equipment and the recalibrations of the equipment. The Coca Cola Company could not foot all the bills, because of the huge costs of shipment and the calibrations of the donated-medical equipment. Hence, the Ghana government was contacted to foot part of the bills in the shipment and the calibrations; through the Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C. After sometime the Ghana Embassy said they were not hearing from the Ghana government, so the Minister for Trade decided to put the equipment in the storage (8 containers, two storage facilities in Springfield, Virginia and Atlanta) and use them to set up his own medical centers in Ghana. Part of the equipment has been shipped already. The question is, if the consignee in Ghana is not Korle-bu Teaching Hospital who is the Private consignee then?

This minister at the Ghana Embassy, therefore, set-up a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) with an organization here in US and Ghana and began to ship these medical equipment in parts and in bits to the NGO that the Minister had established back home Ghana. The Minister Of Trade is intended to set up a private owned hospitals and clinics in Ghana.

As a matter of fact, I do not believe the Ghana Embassy ever reported or informed the Ghana Government about this massive donation of medical equipment with the intention of amassing them illegally and secretly to establish a private owned medical facility at the expense of the citizens of Ghana.

In my opinion, I believe all those ministers are being appointed to play very important role in serving their country, yet that is not their main focus; their focus is to use the country of Ghana to amass their personal wealth. I plead with the Ghana Government to appoint career Ministers and Diplomats, who will be able to maintain good relations with the US government, and not to destroy the relationship with country by mismanaging donations and funds from them.

I have traveled far and wide and I have seen that many of our diplomats are not working to the benefit of Ghanaians, but to themselves. They are using our country to build-up their own wealth and empire - they have not the country of Ghana at the center of their hearts or minds.

I am therefore calling upon the ministry of Health in Ghana and the government of Ghana to immediately intervene in this matter and assist in the investigation and recover the equipment for the people of Ghana, and the appropriate action taking against those who were trying to take what belonged to the people of Ghana.

I strongly suggest that these people who are misusing their office to take such equipment for their private use should be tried by our courts and found guilty and punished accordingly. Ghana Tourist Coach Radio

GTC RADIO, VIRGINIA ([email protected])
Toziah KBD Washington DC & Mrs. Rose Sarpong

Walter Reed Hospital Donations
Posted by Marj Ratel, January 18th, 2012

With the recent Walter Reed Hospital closure in Washington, DC this fall, the U.S. Army & State Department have authorized the relocation of quality neurosurgery operating room equipment to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, as it serves as the regional neurosurgery centre for West Africa. This will provide KBTH with two North American standard neurosurgery operating rooms.

Confirmation and approval of the medical equipment donations involved numerous participants, including Drs. Patrick Banka, Paul King, and Byron Edmonds, Col. [Ret.] Robert Warren, Ambassadors Dan Ogyekum & William Bull Sr., their Executive staff and KBTH. The process is quite complex, and stringent requirements are being met.

Breast screening equipment is included in the shipment, intended to be shared with neighbouring Ghanaian hospitals. The medical library is also making its way to West Africa's Liberia and Ghana medical schools.

In November, I met with the multinational team of volunteers in Washington. I read a heartfelt thank you letter, authored by Seth Ayettey, Chairman of the KBTH Board, on behalf of Ghana and Liberia. It touched their hearts deeply.

The embassies were partnering together as packing, wrapping and loading were in full swing. Once received at their destination, KBNF is committed to assisting the local facilities and providing biomedical support for the equipment.

Equipment and Shipping Committee Report
Posted by Brenda Macleod, May 18th, 2012

Over the past twelve years, the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation (KBNF Canada) has had the opportunity to aid Ghana and Nigeria with valuable medical supplies and equipment. While most of our containers were destined for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, we also had the opportunity to support the Tain District Hospital in Nsawkaw in Northern Ghana, the Benin Teaching Hospital in Nigeria, and the Prison Ministry of Ghana. Donations stemmed mainly from the local Vancouver area hospitals and care facilities but also from as far away as Texas. Our local KBNF volunteers have literally given blood, sweat and monetary donations to make these shipments of hope a reality. We have shipped everything from medical and surgical books to operating room equipment, including operating room microscopes, and everything in between. In November 2011 we loaded our 15th and final container for Ghana; a 40-foot container filled with hospital beds and medical supplies, along with lab supplies for the pathology students at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

As stated in last year's report, KBNF is looking at moving its resources from the actual shipping of medical equipment and supplies to the delivery of medical education in the coming years. We will continue to facilitate the shipment of medical supplies from other agencies and consider the possibility of sponsoring the purchase of specific equipment for the Neuroscience Units in West Africa. A great example of this facilitation involves the recent closing of the Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington D.C. this past fall. Executive member Dr. Paul King and KBTH neurosurgeon Dr. Patrick Banka were instrumental in the securing of operating room equipment to complete two North American standard neurosurgery operating rooms that are expected to be shipped to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital this year. Another project is the assisting with the procurement of critically needed equipment for a Nigerian maternity clinic.

With our Executive member Dr. Jocelyn Lapointe residing in Ghana and teaching at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for the next two years, we look forward to her being able to give us a better idea of its equipment and biomedical service needs.

We wish to thank all our sponsors who have made these shipments over the last 12 years possible including Diamond Delivery of Surrey, BC and Compassionate Resource Warehouse of Victoria, BC. A special thank you to all the KBNF volunteers who have given many hours of their time to clean, sort, pack, inventory, and load all of the medical supplies and equipment over the years. We couldn't have done it without you! Thanks for the memories!