Transfer Of Principals Of HTIs: Does It Align With The President’s Reset Agenda Or Bias And Selective Call By The Health Minister And Cronies – Dr. Haruna Writes

The recent transfer of principals of Health Training Institutions (HTIs) has sparked controversy, with many questioning whether the decision aligns with the President’s reset agenda or is driven by bias and selective interests.

As a health Researcher, Consultant, Analyst and ardent sympathizer of the NDC, Dr. Haruna Alhassan, believes it’s essential to draw attention to the trending issues surrounding this decision.

According to him, he believes every sector of the economy needs to be reset, but should be done impartially and without bias.

He revealed that the criteria used for the transfers are unclear, and it’s puzzling that some principals were left out while others were transferred.

In his opinion, the transfers were done in haste and in a biased manner. He urged the government to hold on to the transfers and do the needful, or be prepared for the resistance and backlash that may follow. Dr. Haruna Alhassan added that it’s essential to prioritize caution and consultation in implementing the reset agenda.

 

See the full statement below.

TRANSFER OF PRINCIPALS OF HEALTH TRAINING INSTITUTIONS (HTIs)

Does it align with the President’s reset agenda or bias and selective call by the Health Minister and cronies

I have followed keenly the feedback that on the recent transfer of principals of Health Training Institutions and as a Health consultant and ardent sympathizer of the NDC, I think it is imperative to draw the attention of leadership to trending issues. I believe every sector of the economy needs reset but should be done impartially and without bias.

My sources within the party indicates that the health minister sought cabinet approval for the mass transfer, but did the cabinet also approve that it’s done in this bias manner. We are just about 5 months in office and neither the Health Minister or the leadership of Health Training Institutions, under which all colleges of health fall, have visited any of the colleges to engage with them and stakeholders within the communities that these schools are located. So, upon what intelligence or report did the Health minister base on and presented to the cabinet for such approval?

This decision is somehow commendable, but will not achieve the needed results as from some intelligence I have gathered, it will be met with a lot of resistance in most places, especially from stakeholders and even some party members. Some have opined that the bias in this exercise has defeated the purpose for these transfers. What criteria were used that left some of the principals out if the approval was for mass transfer?

The clear and obvious ones that have raised a lot of red flags is that of the health minister’s own constituency. Go through the transfer list circulating which is attached and you will see that all the two schools (Sefwi Asafo and Sefwi Wiawso) in the Sefwi enclave where the Hon. Minister hails from, none of the principals were transferred. The principal of Sefwi Asafo college of health has been there since 2017 (8 years) but wasn’t transferred. The health minister has also made the Sefwi Asafo principal who is neither a nurse or midwife a board member of Komfo Anokye teaching hospital as nurses’ rep. In the case Sefwi Wiawso NMTC the current principal (was a vice principal and native of Sefwi) was made a principal just about a month ago when the Hon. Minister asked the then principal (who had been at post for just 5 months) to hand over to the current principal who was the vice principal (because he is from Sefwi and a close ally of the health minister.

Quite apart from that, almost 30 principals have been maintained and not transferred. The principal of Ankaful psychiatric nursing training college has been at post for about 10 years but was left out. The current principal of Sunyani NMTC who has retired but given 5 years extension has been transferred to Goaso and has also been made a board member of Sunyani Teaching Hospital.
This is a very disappointing development and it put the ministry of health in a bad light which affects the image of our government. Hon. Akandoh considering his constant criticism in opposition, I expected him to do better.

What is more worrying also is that the background of the principals were not taken into consideration. For instance, the Goaso principal who’s a male has been transferred to Yeji NMTC that offers midwifery which is a program offered by only females.

Colleges under CHAG were excluded, however some of the principals at these CHAG schools have been at post for so many years with some even retired but given extensions. A clear example is Monica Nkrumah who has retired but given 5 years extension and manages two schools (Berekum and Drobo) at the same time and still at post. Agogo principal who has also retired has been given 5 years extension and still at post.

Some schools are also newly community initiated schools that are yet to find their feet with no government intervention in terms of infrastructure. Some of the principals that started these schools together with the communities have laid down developmental plans that are gradually being executed to get the schools fully established so how will such schools survive with such principals being transferred especially when the schools are yet to fully find their feet. These new principals don’t know the genesis of the schools and such schools were supposed to be allowed some time to grow.

Transfers have some impact but the actual problem with most of these HTI is the attitude of some of these principals. The need a thorough workshop and training to help reform their attitudes and characters. The transfers will not change these attitudes of theirs but will move with them to their new schools and the problems will still persist.

In my candid opinion, these transfers were done in a haste and very bias manner that’s why one will wonder whether the Hon. Minister and allies are seeking vengeance on some principals or pursuing His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s reset agenda. We are just 5 months into government and the HTI’s are not institutions occupied by politicians and we could have taken our time to do the transfers in batches after carefully visiting and engaging all the HTI’s to do critical analysis, assessment and consultations with all relevant stakeholders. It’s never too late, we can hold on with the transfers and do the needful or be ready for the resistance and backlash with its corresponding consequences on the schools.

We should also however expect that most of these affected schools especially newly established schools will move in reverse gear for some years before bouncing back. The agenda to reset is great but must be done with caution.

Dr. Haruna Alhassan
Health Researcher, Consultant and Analyst

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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