At a news conference in Accra, Mr Annan stated that the exercise would provide checks and balances in the purchase of goods, especially, medical equipment and drugs, which some individuals had been doing illegally in the past at a cost to the hospital.

He said although the exercise began just this year, a lot of rot had already been exposed, a development which had incurred the displeasure of the hospital’s staff.

The exercise is being carried out by a three-member committee, which is expected to visit each department and find out exactly what happens in that department. The committee is supposed to, among others, determine whether the transactions and activities of the various department were consistent with the hospital’s rules and regulations.

“This is helping to unearth a whole lot of people who are not doing the right things, and it’s these people who are not happy, and are spreading negative rumors about Korle-Bu, Mr Annan stated.

But Mr Annan explained that the resolve of management to expose those deals would not be shaken by the needless complaints of a few who wanted to enrich themselves at the detriment of the hospital.

Mr Annan said prior to the commencement of the restructuring exercise this month, so many orders, usually at heavily inflated prices were being placed by individuals who had no business doing so, without the knowledge of  Professor Afua Hesse, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital.

He explained that disciplinary action would be taken against some of the staff whose conduct was found to be inappropriate, while measures were being adopted to stop all such illegal activities.

Mr Annan had also invited the media to also react to some news in a section of the press regarding his style of management.

There are media reports that  Mr Annan has appointed Professor Afua Hesse as CEO, and also handpicked Mr Godfred Ahianyo as a member of the Korle-Bu Board of Directors.

Reacting to those reports, Mr Annan said he had no relation on the board and that he also did not in anyway influence the selection of Mr Nuru-Deen Mohammed as the Director of Administration as being speculated.

“I didn’t see the applications, I didn’t see the short-listed names and I never met them until after their appointments”, he stressed.

He refuted allegations that he had awarded all Korle-Bu contracts to himself, saying that “I have not signed any contract. What I do is to give approval for contracts”.

Story by Naa Lamiley Bentil