Mills directs proper handing at Cardiothoracic Centre

Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday directed proper handing over of the administrative functions of the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC) by its out of favour director within a month from August 29, and expects normalcy to return at the Centre.

"President Mills has subsequently directed that a proper handing over process of the administrative functions of the NCC be carried out within one month beginning from today, August 29, and that he expects normalcy to return at the NCC," a statement issued in Accra by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information said.

This was the outcome of a meeting President Mills had with surgeons and staff of the NCC following the dismissal of Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng as the Director of NCC.

The statement said, 93After receiving a full brief and considering t= he petition sent him by surgeons and staff of the NCC on Monday morning, President Mills proceeded to meet them at the Castle at 2:30pm". "The meeting which was cordial and fruitful was successful in clarifying the true import of the letter conveyed to Prof. Frimpong Boateng on 24th August, 2011 by the Health Minister, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh," it added.

"Whiles recognising the important role of Prof. Frimpong Boateng in the establishment and growth of the NCC, President Mills emphasised that it was also imperative that the Laws of Ghana are obeyed by all and that he is always minded of his Oath to uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana."

"President Mills acknowledged that the transition process and the Minister of Health's letter could have been better and assured all of his continuous commitment to building strong institutions, promoting the rule o= f law and ensuring quality health care for all citizens."

The meeting recalled how Prof. Frimpong Boateng was offered an appointment by the Minister of Health by a letter dated 22nd June, 2000 as "the Director in-charge of the National Cardiothoracic Centre on honorary basis until further notice."

Before then Prof. Frimpong Boateng had continuously served as the Director of the Centre since it was established in 1991 and formerly inaugurated in 1992 by Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, then Chairman of the PNDC.

At all times, the NCC has remained a public institution under the Ministry of Health.

It was pointed out that it is not the intention of the Ministry of Health to prevent Prof. Frimpong Boateng from carrying out his professional duties as a surgeon at the NCC and that as a Lecturer in Surgery of the University of Ghana Medical School, he is allowed by virtue of being a Professor to be engaged on contract until he attains the age of 70. Prof. Frimpong Boateng is therefore entitled to be a Consultant at the NCC just like other Senior Professors who lecture at the UGMS. It was agreed that what the letter should have conveyed was the need for Prof. Frimpong Boateng now 62, to hand over as the administrative head of the NCC having passed the compulsory retirement age of 60 in conformity with Article 199 of the 1992 Constitution.

The meeting also acknowledged that Prof. Frimpong Boateng's appointment in 2000 was 93until further notice" hence was never intended to be a position for the preserve of any one person.

The doctors and staff of the NCC thanked President Atta Mills for the swift response given to their petition.

Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Minister of Health dismissed Prof. Frimpong-Boateng as Director of NCC. Sources at the Centre confirmed to Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he received the dismissal letter during the morning of Thursday, August 25, bu= t no reason was assigned.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng confirmed the dismissal in interview with journalists in Accra.

He said, 93I was given my dismissal letter signed by Mr Joseph Yieleh-Chireh and was to take immediate effect. No reason was assigned for my dismissal".

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said he had no problem with the Ministry and hoped his dismissal was in the best interest of the country. "I do not feel disappointed," he said, adding, 93After my long ye= ars of service to the nation, I feel very good such a decision has been taken". He said until his dismissal, he was discussing with the Ministry pertinent issues affecting the health sector, and pointed out that 93I wil= l still play active role in health issues in the country, my dismissal notwithstanding".

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng returned to Ghana to practice as Ghana's first locally-based cardiothoracic surgeon, and established the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in 1992 as there wa= s no cardiothoracic surgery facility in the country at the time. He also runs a charitable foundation, Ghana Heart Foundation that is responsible for paying for heart surgery for some indigent Ghanaians under his care.