Director of Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital asked to proceed on leave

The government, in consultation with stakeholders, have decided that the Director of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast in the Central Region, Dr Eugene Dordoye, should proceed on a six-month leave to attend a capacity building training in managerial skills.

In the interim, the government will appoint another person to replace Dr Dordoye to ensure uninterrupted services at the hospital.

This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Health, Mr Franklyn Cudjoe, in a telephone interview.

After the six months, an assessment will be carried out to ascertain whether the gaps found in his managerial capabilities have been addressed, otherwise he will be reassigned.

“I want to state emphatically that Dr Dordoye has not been sacked. There are a few psychiatric doctors in the country at the moment and he is one of the best and so the government has no reason at this time to sack him,” Mr Cudjoe indicated.

According to him, Dr Dordoye was in a meeting in Accra where the decision was taken.

Strike action

As at the time of filing this story on Friday, the striking psychiatric nurses and assistants of the hospital were still at home.

They began the strike action last Thursday to back their demand for the immediate removal of Dr Dordoye as the director of the hospital.

When the Daily Graphic visited the hospital on Thursday, the nurses were still not at post.