Staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Northern Region are living in fear after the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kwashie was chased out over a month ago by the Kandahar boys, a pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante group and his whereabouts till date unknown.
According to a senior management member who spoke on grounds of strict anonymity, Dr. Samuel Kwashie was issued a 24-hour ultimatum to vacate the region or have himself to blame for anything that will befall him thereafter.
Checks at the Regional Health Director indeed confirmed that since March 20, 2018, the Regional Health Director has not been at post a situation subordinate staff indicate is grinding healthcare delivery to a halt after he was compelled by circumstances to hand over to someone in an acting capacity.
It is believed that some persons who are adverse to reforms being introduced by the Regional Director orchestrated this act to ensure that he does not get to uncover alleged rot they have been engaged in.
Giving a chronology of events, our source disclosed that on March 20, 2018 while top management were at a Regional tender review meeting at the conference hall of the Regional Health Directorate, six members of the group stormed the venue demanding to speak with Dr Kwashie.
In the presence of his Deputies, he requested the say what they wanted to but they insisted and until he owned up and said he was the one and enquired from them why they were looking for him.
A leader of the group told him they had come to issue an ultimatum for him to leave the town within the stipulated period or will be the brunt of anything that may befall him thereafter.
“We asked him not to leave but we could also guarantee his safety but after the meeting, we have since not heard from him. If this can happen to the Regional Director we are also living in fear because they can do same to us”, our source revealed.
It is established that the matter was reported to the Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku and the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare.
Sources say he was subsequently demanded to take a two-weeks leave but nothing has since been heard and there are fears the delay in his resumption of duty could negatively affect the region which is already lagging behind in the area of health.
When reached for his comments, Northern Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Committee, Salifu Sa-eed confirmed that the matter has been brought to his attention.
He appeared to have no idea his Regional Health Director was away for more than a month promising to revisit the matter and get it resolved as soon as possible.
“I hear he had some problems with the Kandahar boys. I will call by Chief Director and we get the matter looked into”, he assured.
Meanwhile, some targeted staff have disclosed that they are being inundated with daily threats by some members of the group for reasons unknown.
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