Baker Hughes accused of delay tactics

Few weeks after Baker Hughes promised major improvements to its treatment of Ghanaian engineer, Andrew Boateng who is currently on admission at Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg as a temporal measure, civil society groups have accused the company of “dragging its feet” in offering proper medical care.

In the wake of the international outcry that followed right group’s observations that revealed the desperate plight of Andrew Boateng, there were widespread media reports in the Ghanaian media on the matter.

In turn, officials of Baker Hughes organized a press conference and promised to ensure the former receives the best of medical care and collaborate effectively with his family.

The US oil and gas services company which is currently operating in many African countries also pledged to airlift Mr Boateng from South Africa to CAREONE LTAC in US, which is the preferred hospital for his long term care.

But, human rights activists fear the company’s promises to Mr Boateng and his family could be a mirage considering the turn of events since it held its “face saving” press conference.

It would be recalled that the sad story of Andrew Boateng, who is on admission at a home for the aged in Johannesburg, caught the attention of some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and rights activists whose protests compelled his employer Baker Hughes to re-assess the medical care they were offering him.

Mr Boateng was said to be undertaking official rotational work in the Congo and Gabon for Baker Hughes when he got involved in a terrible accident at Port-Gentil, Gabon on April, 24 2014.

He was subsequently airlifted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa in coma.

When he later regained consciousness, he reportedly spent a couple of weeks at the hospital and was first moved to Clayton Rehabilitation Centre and finally to another home for the aged called Serenity Home also in Johannesburg.

The company reportedly stopped catering for his needs. A complaint was subsequently lodged against Baker Hughes at the National Labour Commission (NLC) prompting Baker Hughes to come public on the matter.