Accra, July 17, GNA - Four hundred and fifty staff (450) and health workers of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, have filed an ex-parte motion for an order of Garnishee against funds, treasury bills and fixed deposits credited to the accounts of the hospital by the Bank of Ghana (BOG).

Garnishee is the process of executing a judgment debt. The Governor of BOG or its representative was to appear before the court to show why funds of the hospital should not be attached in satisfaction of an outstanding judgment debt of GHC 540,630 cedis awarded by an Accra High Court.

On December 18, 2007 the court presided over by Mr. Justice Lartey Young entered judgment in favour of the workers, ordering the defendants to issue to the workers the registered documents of the land they had paid for within two months.

The defendants include the hospital and former Chief Executive Officer, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Dr B.D.R.T Annan, Director of Medical Affairs, Mr. Christopher Nartey, Director of Administration, Mr. Emmanuel E.B Annan Kakabaah, Director of Finance and Mr. Alex Arhin, Secretary to Oyibi Land Committee.

The workers on May 17, 2007 dragged the defendants to court following their inability to refund to plaintiffs all monies collected from them for the purchase of land at Oyibi, near Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

When the case was called at the court on Wednesday before the same court, the Governor or its representative officials of BOG did not turn up.

The court therefore adjourned the matter to July 20 to ensure that the Governor was served.

In the judgment of the court, defendants were asked to give the plaintiffs possession of the plots of land.

Failure on the part of the defendants to comply with the order, gave the court the right to recover all monies the plaintiffs spent to pay for the land provided they settled all arrears. It further awarded a cost of GHC 100 cedis each to all the plaintiffs. In support of an affidavit sworn by Mr. Theophilus Mensah of Dansoman, he observed that on 25 February, the court delivered judgment in their favour.

Mr. Mensah said since judgment was pronounced by the court, the defendants (respondents) had not taken steps whatsoever to satisfy either the judgment debt or cost at all. According to Mr. Mensah the total indebtedness of the defendants including cost is GH 540,630.

Mr. Mensah said: "I verily believe that funds currently held in credit for the hospital at the bank are sufficient to fully satisfy or substantially reduce the indebtedness."