NSS Mgt Summons Opoku-Mensah For Investigation

The Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has invited its Ashanti Regional Director for preliminary investigations.

Alex Opoku-Mensah is said to have verbally abused a nurse at the Manhyia Hospital for the manner in which the healthcare provider spoke with his daughter.

The nurse had called the house officer to suggest a change in prescription because what the latter prescribed was unavailable at the pharmacy.

According to the Medical Superintendent, Dr Hussein, the house officer is said to have taken offence at how the nurse spoke with her, thus protested.

Dr. Hussein said, the house officer happened to have been in the company of her father when she spoke with the nurse on phone. As such, Mr. Opoku-Mensah was infuriated by the turn of events and followed his daughter to the hospital.

In an audio recording that has gone viral, Mr. Opoku-Mensah said, “you are very frustrated…Who born dog?…you envy her, you don’t respect. Are you a doctor? Who are you? Are you mad? Is the hospital yours? Stupid idiot.. that your useless nursing that you do, useless woman… Do you know who I am? I am the Regional Director of National Service Scheme. Some of you are under me.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NSS described the incident as “unfortunate” and apologised for it.

“The Management of the Scheme wishes to reiterate its commitment and assurances to the public and the nursing fraternity of our dedication to getting this matter resolved,” parts of the release read.

Twenty-four hours after the incident, Mr Opoku-Mensah rendered an unqualified apology noting that “that is not my style.”

In a Facebook post, Mr Opoku-Mensah said the modus operandi he employed in handling the friction between his daughter who is a doctor and the nurse “has never been my style.”

According to him, he sought to mediate the issue between the duo because he considered the nurse involved as his daughter as well.

Nonetheless, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has since issued a statement calling for the immediate removal of Mr Opoku-Mensah from office for the misbehaviour.

“The Public Services Commission and Government for that matter should sack the said Regional Director immediately because he is not fit for the director position he holds in public service.

“He had absolutely no right to enter Manhyia hospital and verbally abuse and threaten the nurse in question who was on duty at the time,” the statement read.

The nurses threatened that they will call upon their members at the facility to boycott their duties if Mr Opoku-Mensah is not sacked within the next 72 hours.