The Head of the Korle-Bu Cadiothoracic Centre and one-time Presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng has been sacked. His dismissal takes immediate effect.

A copy of the letter terminating the appointment of the renowned surgeon and sighted by peacefmonline.com reads; “In view of your transfer from the Ministry Of Health (MOH) to University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) your appointment as honorary director in charge of the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) has been terminated with immediate effect”.

The letter, which was signed by the Health Minister, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, was also copied to the President, Prof J.E.A. Mills, the Chief of Staff, John Henry Martey Newman and the Deputy Minister of Health, Rojo Mettle Nunoo.

The National Cardiothoracic Center (NCTC), according to reports is still Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s most prominent department. From its humble beginnings in 1989 with just a small number of staff, the Center has burgeoned into over a 100 personnel-staff, with some well-trained and highly skilled heart surgeons.

The Center has built a solid reputation across the West African sub-region as a leader in complicated heart procedures, thus drawing several specialists to it on regular basis.

Seen as the main power behind the Center’s operation for over two decades now, Prof. K. Frimpong, under his stewardship, is credited with having introduced the Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) innovation. The service allows surgeons to perform certain cardiothoracic procedures without cutting the chest open.

Below is a copy of the letter terminating the appointment of Prof. K. Frimpong Boateng.

Ministry Of Health

Refer to letter no. DMS/A/450 Offering Appointment as a Honorary Director-In-Charge of NCTC

Dated 22/06/2000

Terminating of Appointment as Honorary Director of National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) - Korle-Bu

In view of your transfer from the Ministry Of Health (MOH) to the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) your appointment as Honorary Director in charge of the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) has been terminated with immediate effect.

We take this opportunity to thank you for your service rendered to the NCTC and wish you well.

Signed: Joseph Yieleh Chireh (MP) Minister of Health.

In a related development, peacefmonline.com is reliably informed that the decision to do away with the services of the celebrated surgeon has not gone down well with some medical staff at Korle-Bu.

Sources say some doctors are furious at the decision and have threatened to embark on a strike action on Monday, if the Ministry and Government refuse to heed their call to re-instate him.