Pratt Caught Pants Down

THE WIDOWER and family of the late Mrs. Gladys Ampadu, the woman whom the Insight newspaper claimed had died on an operation table at Ridge Hospital as a result of power outage, have described the story as a total falsehood, peddled by Mr. Kwasi Pratt, the editor of the paper, and published in Wednesday’s edition of the newspaper.

They expressed total dismay at the report, and that Mr. Pratt lied about the death of their beloved Gladys.

Giving evidence at a press conference last Friday, to support their statement and to refute Mr. Pratt’s allegation, the widower said that the late Gladys was never operated upon at the hospital as the paper alleged.

He said he has never met Kwasi Pratt in his life and was amazed to see him clutching a so-called copy of a death certificate which he claimed was that of his late wife.

Presenting the facts of the case, Dr. Eric Asamoah, medical superintendent of the Ridge hospital, said, it is true that Gladys died at the hospital, but she did not die on an operation table as a result of power outage.

“Rather, she died of gastro enteritis also known as diarrhea within 24 hours when she was brought to the hospital”, he noted. Dr. Asamoah said the late Gladys was brought to the hospital at about 5 pm on June 7, 2002, and she died at exactly 2:22 am, in the night.

He reiterated that, when the late Gladys was brought to the hospital there was no issue or consideration of sending her to the theatre.

On the issue of another woman whom the Insight claimed almost died on the operation table as a result of another power outage cut, Dr. Asamoah said that she is alive and kicking at the hospital’s ward.

He admitted that there was a power outage (from the main electricity line) but the hospital has back-up power generator which lasted for about 45 minutes, so the doctors were able to complete the operation successfully.

He further explained that, even though the stand-by power generator of the hospital has broken down, there are power back-ups, which enable the hospital to perform operations without any hindrance.

On his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, urged Mr. Pratt to endeavour to verify or cross-check his stories that are likely to generate panic and insecurity in the society by contacting the appropriate sources for relevant information pertaining to the health-care delivery system in Ghana.

He cautioned Mr. Pratt to look before he leaps next time.

Accordingly, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie called on Mr. Pratt and the Insight to retract the publication and formally apologise to the widower and relatives of the deceased for adding to their pain and sorrow by his false publication.

He also called on Mr. Pratt to apologise to the second woman and the general public for causing unnecessary panic and insecurity in the health service.

He added that Mr. Pratt must also formally apologise to him, the minister and the authorities of the Ridge hospital for peddling falsehood.

The family members of the late Gladys who were present at the press conference included Mr. Joseph Kwaku Asante, an uncle of the deceased and Mr. Joseph Boateng.

In a related development, Nana Kofi Amposah-Bediako, a deputy government Spokesman, cautioned the public to be wary of the increasing crop of journalists and social commentators who are championing the cause of their sponsors.

He assured the public that the government would strive to rebuild the country, “but if others prefer to play games and create mischief for their sponsors, let them continue”.

“By their fruits, they shall be known”, he intoned.

Nana Bediako said this in an interview with the Daily Guide after the press conference.

It would be recalled that the Insight newspaper published in its Wednesday, October 30-31, 2002, edition that a woman had died on operation table as a result of electricity power outage. The story said the woman had been cut open during the operation when the power went off.

The editor of the paper later spoke on a number of radio stations in Accra and to a television station brandishing a document he claimed was the death certificate of the late Gladys.

He could, however, not mention the cause of death when he was challenged by Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Health Minister on Peace FM where Mr. Pratt had landed with his claims.