Ankaful Hospital nurses strike again over director’s conduct

Health Workers at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in the Central region are staging a boycott at the facility as a move to force the exit of the embattled director Dr. Eugene Dordoye.

The nurses explained that the presence of the medical director at the facility poses a threat to their stay at the facility and therefore can’t work effectively when he is still steering affairs.

The man they explained has not not demonstrated any change in his character indicating that he is not ready to create the best environment for health care delivery to take place.

One of the leaders of the group Emmanuel Ofori speaking in an interview with Ultimate News’ Central regional correspondent Kwaku Baah-Acheamfour said the health workers explained they will continue to boycott duty until the medical doctor is replaced.

Read details of the full statement:

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY ACCRA

Dear Sir,

REMOVAL OF STAFF FROM DANGER

Please take notice that we the NURSES and PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital wish to remove ourselves from the danger posed to our mental and physical health by the illegal, oppressive, traumatic, degrading, abusive, embarrassing and general egocentric behaviour of the Hospital Director, Dr Eugene Dordoye, with immediate effect.

The specific actions complained of are those contained in: a. our petition to the Honourable Minister for Health dated 20th October 2017 (copy attached);

b. the Report submitted by the Fact Finding Committee that investigated the goings at the Ankaful Hospital dated 23rd-26 th October 2017 (copy attached); and

c. the subsequent actions of Dr Dordoye from October 2017 to date, including while the mediation efforts aimed at addressing the complaints was on-going.

For the avoidance of doubt, we hereby state clearly that we are not on strike. We are taking this action under section 119 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651); and accordingly, we are ready to return to work as soon as he is removed from the hospital.

For the avoidance of doubt also, we are not asking or insisting that he should be dismissed or that his appointment be terminated. What we are asking for is that he should be removed from the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and be given the requisite training on people management and effective leadership (as has been suggested by the Fact Finding Committee) before coming back to run the hospital; in order to save us from the physical, emotional and mental torture he has been subjecting us to; as well as to give us a fresh atmosphere to enable us heal our emotional and psychological wounds, as same is being hindered by his continuous presence.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE.

Yours faithfully,

Daniel Danso Sarpong Local Chairman, PNG

Malcolm Akatinga All Local Secretary, PNG