Health Ministry Peddling ‘Lies’ About UG Medical Centre – Prof. Aryeetey

The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, has accused the Deputy Minister of Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, of throwing dust into the eyes of the public over his recent claims that the University of Ghana’s Medical Centre was registered in the name of some private individuals.

The Deputy Minister had alleged that the former Vice Chancellor and two other persons – former Deputy Health Minister Rojo Mettle Nunoo, and Prof. Aaron Nii Lante Lawson, have registered the University of Ghana Medical Center in their names.

“It will shock Ghanaians to hear that a limited liability company such as the facility has been registered in the names of Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey and one Prof. Aaron Nii Lante Lawson in their respective names” the deputy minister reportedly said.

But speaking to Citi News’ Caleb Kudah, the former University of Ghana Vice Chancellor said the Deputy Minister lied.

“Lying to the people of Ghana that the company was registered in my name is unacceptable, it’s completely unacceptable.  It is a lie and he knows it. His Minister made an earlier lie and the fact that they continue with this lie is what annoys me. So you have a deputy minister and a minister of health lying about a public facility, lying about an individual or individuals and yet they perpetuate it. They go all with it hoping to create a bad name for me,” he noted.

Prof. Aryeetey explained that the Deputy Minister’s claim suggests that he is clueless on how companies are registered in the country, adding that the hospital was registered in the name of the University of Ghana.

He explained that when registering companies, there is the need to provide the names of the directors, adding that in this case, he was authorized as Vice Chancellor, while Prof Lawson was authorized as the Project Manager by the University Council to front for the hospital.

Confusion over the Medical centre

The Medical Centre, which cost about $217 million is still not operational, although the phase one has been completed for about a year now.

There is currently a tussle between the Ministry of Health and the University over the rightful managers of the facility.

Whereas the Ministry of Health believes it is the appropriate body to properly manage the facility, authorities at the University think otherwise.

Following the public uproar over the delay in opening the facility, the Ministry of Health further disclosed that it needs about $6 million to make it operational.

Health Ministry can’t claim ownership of Medical Centre

Prof. Ernest Aryeetey in the interview further challenged the Ministry of Health to provide evidence indicating that they must take ownership of the University’s Medical Center.

Prof. Aryeetey insisted that the hospital was never built for the Ministry, and charged the University to rise up and fight for its property.

“It was never built for the Ministry of Health, and I’m challenging the Ministry of Health or anybody with any information that the hospital was built for the Ministry of Health to come out and give us the evidence. The hospital is at Legon because Legon asked for it.”

Clueless Minister

Prof. Aryeetey also lambasted the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, saying he does not understand his job as the Minister.

“He hasn’t understood it, and because he is adding mischief to his lack of understanding it is leading to this kind of mess we have here. The University needs to stand up and fight for what is rightfully its property,” he added.