A large-scale demonstration is looming at Ghana's premier teaching hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in the Greater Accra Region, as over 500 employees from five unions prepare to embark on industrial action on October 7, 2024.

Their demand?  The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, was immediately removed due to what they described as his poor and incompetent leadership.

The staff, drawn from the Korle Bu Senior Staff Association (KOSSA), Health Service Workers Union (HSWU), Health Accounting Staff of Ghana (HASAG), Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), and the Ghana Federation of Allied Health Professionals (GFAHPS), are determined to push for change. They’ve made it clear that if Dr. Ampomah remains in office beyond October 5, 2024, they will have no choice but to take to the streets in protest.

In a letter dated July 26, 2024, addressed to the Minister of Health, the unions laid out their grievances and warned that healthcare delivery at Korle Bu could be severely compromised if their demands are not met. They argue that the CEO’s continued leadership poses a risk to the effective and efficient operation of the hospital.

The unions have levelled a range of accusations against Dr. Ampomah, allegedly including delays in approvals leading to frequent shortages of essential medical supplies, conflict of interest, poor management practices, and a lack of progress in critical areas of healthcare delivery.

They also cite low staff morale, high turnover rates, and a growing sense of fatigue among employees. According to the unions, key administrative functions often come to a standstill in the CEO’s absence, with unsigned cheques piling up.

Additionally, they accuse him of victimizing union members and acting arbitrarily.

As the planned demonstration approaches, union leaders met with the Korle Bu District Police Command on September 20, 2024, following a formal notice sent on August 27.

The protest route, as disclosed to the police, will begin at the Cardiothoracic Centre, proceed through the Accident and Emergency Centre, and conclude at the Central Administration, where a petition will be presented to the hospital’s board or its representatives.

The unions have reiterated their resolve, warning that the demonstration is just the first step.

If their demands are not addressed, they are prepared to escalate their actions, which may include the continuous wearing of red armbands, the withdrawal of Out-Patient Department (OPD) services, and, ultimately, a total strike across the hospital.