Dr. Thomas Anabah
My attention has been drawn to a comment made by Joseph Kpenka, Deputy Attorney-General and Member of Parliament for the Tempane Constituency, that the no beds excuse is real and not cosmetic.
He narrated a touching story as to how his wife died in 2016 because 5 [ads1]different hospitals he approached couldn’t admit her because of beds problem which included Ridge Hospital.
Joseph Kpenka shared his experience on 12-06-2018 where he was contributing to a Joy TV News File program in which he stated ‘a certain Doctor Anaba’ he called from Ridge Hospital had to intervene before his wife was admitted, though it was too late. According to Joseph Kpenka he even knelt before the staff of the emergency unit of Ridge hospital to assist him which all fell on death ears.
Though I feel for my good friend Joseph Kpenka on the demise of his wife, he has, however, told wicked lies which I wish to set the records straight.
The issues are as follows:
1. Joseph Kpenka never went on his knees begging medical staff at the Ridge Hospital to even admit her on the floor and start a treatment which the staff refused.
2. He said he called me Doctor Anabah to intervene before his wife got admission. This, however, is partly a lie. Yes, he called me on the said date but from a different Hospital so I couldn’t have intervened when he wasn’t at the Ridge Hospital then.
3. Ridge Hospital never at any point in time had beds but refused to admit patient at least during my tenure as a director as claimed by Joseph Kpenka.
4. The Ridge Hospital always had 100% bed occupancy rate. Anyone who is in doubt can refer to the bed’s utility rate under my tenure.
5. On that very occasion, a patient was even dropped to sit on a chair partly because that patient was better and also understood the need for Kpemkas wife to have the bed (his wife was unconscious when he brought her to the Ridge Hospital)
6. Under my tenure, Ridge Hospital operated an open door policy which means it wasn’t our culture to return patients away due to bed unavailability.
7. Joseph Kpenka came to Ridge Hospital with John Tia, the Head of Transport for the BNI. If he is honest, he will tell the truth when contacted.
Finally, I was on my way to Kumasi for a program when Joseph Kpenka called, at which time I was in Ofankor heading to Kumasi. The medical staff could have handled his wife’s situation even in my absence but I, however, returned because Joseph Kpenka and I come from the same village, he is childhood friend to my siblings and we know each other very well. It is for this reason I had to return to show him family concern.
My worry about the admission by Hon. Joseph Kpenka is that he is a Lawyer, Deputy Attorney-General and a Member of Parliament, great positions I must admit. He should for that matter, always maintain the values of honesty as all times as required by the profession. He should not use a lie to justify a misdeed probably for political mischief.
Why did he address me as one Dr Anabah, if he knows me very well? He also knows that I was the Medical Director of ridge who was sacked by his health minister for incompetence under the excuse of restructuring.
Signed
Dr. Thomas Anabah
21/06/18
