Mahama intervenes in Korle-bu rumpus; Okpoti out, Buckle in

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr. Gilbert Buckle, an internationally-recognised Public Health Physician, as the new Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The appointment comes two days after the new Health Minister reinstated Acting CEO, Rev Albert Okpoti Botchway who had been sacked by the former Health Minister Madam Sherry Aryittey.

Rev Okpoti was accused by the members of the Korle-Bu staff Association of mismanaging the hospital and also misappropriating the hospital’s internally generated funds to buy plush vehicles for management members.

The Acting CEO however had the support of the Board Chairman, Eddy Annan who said the reinstatement of Rev Okpoti was a vindication of his position.

It is not clear if he still feels vindicated now that the president has appointed a new acting CEO.

The appointment comes a day after the consultants of the hospital petitioned the president with a call on him to dismiss the acting CEO and to dissolve the Eddy Annan led Board.

The appointment of Dr Gilbert Buckle is likely to end weeks of drama, chaos, accusations and counter-accusations in Ghana’s largest referral hospital.

“Dr. Gilbert Buckle has more than 17 years of experience working in the public and private health sectors in Ghana, with 12 years in senior management and leadership roles. He has served for several years in Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, where he rose to become Medical Director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital and also Municipal Director of Health Services.

“Dr. Buckle is currently the Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana, a group that provides about 20 per cent of all outpatient and 30 per cent of inpatient services in Ghana.

“He graduated as a Medical Doctor from the School of Medical Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi in 1992, and earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Ghana School of Public Health in 1998.

“Dr Buckle is a Member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health and also a Member of the Ghana AIDS Commission. In addition, he holds Memberships in the Ghana Medical Association and the Public Health Association of Ghana. He is a professionally certified Organisational and Systems Development Practitioner.

“His appointment takes immediate effect,” a statement from the president said.