Fake Doctor arrested in Bolgatanga

Bolgatanga, Aug 7, GNA - A middle-aged man, Akwesi Asare,

who posed as a medical doctor with the Komfo Anokye Teaching

Hospital (KATH) has been arrested by the Bolgatanga police. According to the Upper East Regional Police Officer in charge

of Crime, Superintendent Victor Seth Agbetornyo, Asare was

arrested when he was seeking admission at the Bolgatanga Health

Assistants Training School through protocol for two candidates he

had allegedly collected monies from. He said Asare would be arraigned before court on Friday,

August 8. A search through Asare's bag revealed a set of stethoscope,

admission forms for nursing training colleges which were stamped

and signed by him as a doctor, Senior Secondary Certificate

Examination (SSCE) result slips and other medical accoutrements. Mr Agbetornyo said when the school authorities confronted the

suspect he bolted to a taxi rank nearby apparently to escape,

however, the authorities raised an alarm and he was arrested. The Principal of the Bolgatanga Health Assistant Training

School, Mr Francis Ayaaba, confirmed the incident to the Ghana

News Agency and said the school authorities were conducting

interviews to admit fresh students. He indicated that while he and other members on the interview

panel were at work, the suspect approached him and introduced

himself as a doctor from KATH. He explained that he directed the suspect to leave whatever

message he had for him with the school's secretary "but the suspect

declined and sat waiting from about 0800 hours to 1400 hours and

said he wanted to see me." Mr Ayaaba said from the suspect's speech he detected that he

could be an imposter and so together with his colleagues at the

school they called the Medical and Dental Council for confirmation. He said when quizzed further, the suspect changed his

statements from being a doctor to a Medical Assistant and later to a

hospital staff. Mr Ayaaba said the suspect excused himself and went outside

pretending he was bringing out some documents to justify his claim. The Principal explained that Asare then escaped through a taxi

rank nearby leaving the two candidates behind. He said he raised an alarm and with the help of the students and

other people Asare was arrested and handed over to the Bolgatanga

District police.