Ankaful Psychiatric Nurses Strike Again

A moment of truth awaits the Medical Director of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Eugene Dodoye as angry nurses at the hospital boycotted work, Yesterday.

Though the Ministry of Health (MoH) is yet to decide his fate, the workers are impatiently demanding the exit of Dr Dodoye, claiming he has been disrespectful and ineffective.

In a statement signed by Daniel Danso Sarpong, the Local Chairman of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, they are unhappy with the MoH for failing to heed to their numerous cry for Dodoye’s removal.

“What we are asking for is that he should be removed from the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and be given the requisite training on people management and effective leadership (as has been suggested by the Fact Finding Committee) before coming back to run the hospital; in order to save us from the physical, emotional and mental torture he has been subjecting us to; as well as to give us a fresh atmosphere to enable us heal our emotional and psychological wounds, as same is being hindered by his continuous presence,” the statement read.

According to the nurses, the persistent stay of the director poses a threat on their mental health.

The statement which was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer Mental Health Authority, said, “we the nurses and physician assistants at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital wish to remove ourselves from the danger posed to our mental and physical health by the illegal, oppressive, traumatic, degrading, abusive, embarrassing and general egocentric behaviour of the Hospital Director, Dr Eugene Dordoye, with immediate effect.”

Buttressing their actions with section 119 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), the nurses stated categorically that, they were not on strike.

“We are ready to return to work as soon as he is removed from the hospital. For the avoidance of doubt also, we are not asking or insisting that he should be dismissed or that his appointment be terminated.

“What we are asking for is that he should be removed from the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital,” the statement read.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]