Ashanti NPP Not Amused By Kath CEO Political Posture

THE ASHANTI Regional branch of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) has reiterated its fears about the apparent political posture of the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital(KATH), Dr. Joseph Akpaloo.

The opposition party says it is not amused by the constant presence of the CEO of the second biggest facility at public rallies and programmes organized by the ruling National Democratic Congress(NDC).

Concerns by the Ashanti NPP follow ongoing debate on social media over an invitation extended to Dr. Akpaloo by the ruling party during its just ended Youth Forum organized in Kumasi over the weekend.

The Regional Organizer of the NDC, Brogya Genfi, has mounted a strong defence over the decision by the party to invite the KATH CEO, stating emphatically that the "CEO is a member of the NDC and as a public servant, nothing prevents him from participating in active politics"

But citing reports few months ago that the ruling party was planning to use the KATH facility as a milking cow to solicit funds for its "One Million Votes" target, the opposition party says the development gives cause for concern.

In a statement signed by its Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne, the party wondered whether KATH has become an apron of the NDC, lamenting that the ruling party is playing a dangerous game with the lives of people in the Ashanti Region.

According to the NPP, the unfolding events fuel speculations that operations of the hospital was being remote-controlled by the ruling party.

The party pointed out that the insistence by the government to implement the NHIS Capitation, despite widespread disapproval by residents, coupled with recent rumours of appointments of NDC surrogates to head some sensitive departments within the facility, should be a matter of concern to all well meaning Ghanaians.

The NPP noted that KATH as a health facility has been in existence for several decades with many CEOs who were appointed not on political leanings or attachments.

The statement therefore called on the people of the region to stand up and condemn the action by the NDC to politicize the provision of healthcare in the country. END