Eddie Annan Quits

This was after workers of the hospital mounted pressure on him to go, following the dismissal of the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Reverend Albert Okpoti Botchway, after a standoff between the hospital's Senior Staff Association, Management and the Board.

Many consider the resignation letter as a face-saving attempt by Eddie Annan from being directly sacked by the President. This was typical of 'jump-or-get-pushed' style since the Presidency was said to be preparing to dissolve the Board of Korle Bu.

In a resignation letter dated Friday, July 25, 2014, Eddie Annan made claims of the existence of a “money making bloc” at Korle Bu and urged the President to consider getting the National Security to conduct a full-scale investigation into the activities of a supposed mafia there.

Claims
'There are financial and infrastructural challenges at Korle Bu but your main challenge, President, will be to dismantle what seems to be a 'mafia' operating at the hospital that is generating wealth to some staff and associates at Korle Bu”, he said.

This, he said was because 'when you talk to the average Korle Bu worker on a calm day, he will tell you the truth which they are all aware of. These are money making blocks that seriously resist being dismantled.'

'If you manage to clean up Korle Bu during your Presidency, you would have done a great service to the nation. I encourage you, Mr. President, to set your face as a flint and unravel the seeming mysteries which are compounded by collusion from sources you least expect. I recommend your National Security Coordinator takes on this fight from a proper perspective and helps you in this quest', he noted.

Rebuttal
Charles Nii Kwadey Offei Palm
But in a swift response, the Senior Staff Association expressed surprise that 'even in his supposed 'resignation' Mr Annan still refers to money making blocs and mafia in Korle Bu and offering to help in dismantling it', describing the claim as 'baseless and provocative and an insult to the generality of the hardworking, honest and committed staff of the hospital.'

'If Mr Annan is not being disingenuous in his description of Korle Bu as a mafia ridden place, he should support KOSSA's call for forensic audit into the operations of the hospital while he was in-charge', a statement signed by President of the Korle Bu Senior Staff Association (KOSSA), Charles Ofei-Palm, said.

He pointed out that 'what KOSSA knows is that if there is any mafia or money making bloc in Korle Bu, His Excellency, the President and staff of the hospital stopped its formation with the dismissal of Mr Annan and the Reverend.'

Concern
This, he said, was because 'we are well aware of the keen interest and active involvement of Mr Annan in the attempts to deplete the drug account to procure just 10 percent of our drug requirements' and that 'we are certain that the attack on the Pharmacy Department and its staff was because of their professional advice and resistance to the indecent and imprudent quest of the Board Chairman to take over drug procurement in the hospital.'

The Korle Bu Senior Staff Association expressed appreciation for the removal of Messrs Eddie Annan and Okpoti Botchway as Board Chair and acting CEO of the hospital respectively.

The Association said: 'it was a timely move and intervention to save Korle Bu from further decline and worsening conditions for the delivery of healthcare to our patients which has been caused mainly by weak board leadership, disregard for established rules and the board's tendency for self service.'

They have since welcomed the call for a forensic audit of the hospital for whoever is found culpable to be sanctioned.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu