Controversy over operation as Komfo Anokye claims it undertook first Siamese operation

Tamale (Northern Region), 19th July 99 ?

The recent successful separation of the Siamese twins may have been the first at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, but not in the country, says professor David Nii Amon-Kotei, Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies (UDS).

At a press conference in Tamale, to set records staright, Professor Amon-Kotei stated: "Contrary to the impression created in a section of the media, the first successful separation of a Siamese twins was not at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi in 1994.

He said he headed a team of five medical experts to successfully operate on two females delivered joined in the chest and abdomen.

They were born at Bawku in the Upper East region and referred to Komfo Anokye Hospital when they were one month old.

Other members of the team were Dr Pius Agbenorku, Plastic Surgeon, Dr Bafoe Bonney, Head of Paediatrics, and Dr Francis Abantanga, Paediatric Surgeon, who is now said to be doing further course in heart surgery overseas.

Professor Amon-Kotei, then the Chief Surgeon at Komfo Anokye, said the Siamese twins had a common liver but two separate gall bladders.

"They survived the operation, but one month later, one of them died from Juandice'', he said, adding that reports reaching him say the other child is still alive.

The recent separation of Siamese twins at Korle Bu was hailed in the media as the first in the country.