The Decision To Lock Up UGMC, Causing Financial Loss, Is Political Madness

Last month a student with a placard, protesting the failure of the Government to open the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) was detained by the Police. This was during a sword cutting ceremony by the first lady, Rebecca Akufo Addo at Korle Bu. This student is perhaps one of the thousands of students who would have taken to the streets, if the government had not bowed to this initial pressure. Surprisingly, the report of the Committee, set up after the incident, is being shelved by the Government.

The Caucus for Democratic Governance-Ghana (CDG-GH) has noted, that the first Phase of the Centre was completed and commissioned by former President John Mahama in November 2016. The 650-bed facility is the first of its kind in WestAfrica. The Ultra modern hospital was conceptualized and began in 2013, during the presidency of the late Prof Atta Mills, with a loan facility from Harpo Alim Bank of Israel. The facility, which has the capacity to serve many thousands of patients daily, has an employment force of 1,400.

After the handing over of Government to President Akufo Addo in January 2017, the project which was expected to function to repay the contracted loan, was locked up. A political controversy; as to who has the right to manage the facility flared up. As a show of strength the NPP Government locked up the facility indefinitely. As a result the expected internally generated funds of several thousand dollars could not be realized. The Warranty for the equipment, and gadgets is reported to have expired. As a result of the shut down, the Government compromised the health needs of the Ghanaian people and our desire to attain Universal Health Suffrage.

Our Health Care System, facing severe neonatal deaths, over crowded facilities and inadequate health care centers cannot watch, while the UGMC goes to rot. Besides, Ghana has an unpardonable patient to doctor ratio, which is at variance with the standards set by the World Health Organization; a situation which is likely to influence the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. The UGMC is multi faceted. In addition to health care, the Centre brings on-board critical mass of expertise in medical care, a medical training centre and a research complex.

In view of the situation causing high financial loss to the state, the CDG-GH hereby gives the Government a notice of proceeding to the appropriate judicial court to initiate the processes against those who are holding up the operations of the UGMC. The wrong decision to lock up UGMC has deprived citizens of Ghana the badly needed specialized medical care. Ironically Dr Bawumia flew to Britain when he fell sick and needed specialized medical care; while the UGMC which should give specialized medical care to all Ghanaians had been locked up. As thousands of doctors looked for jobs, and hundreds of nurses demonstrated, the UGMC which can employ 1,400 health personnel was dormant. Is this not Political Madness ?

Dr E.K.Hayford
Chief Convener CDG-GH
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