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Tag: Alex Opoku-Mensah

  • Manhyia District Hospital nurses call off strike after MoH, GHS intervention

    In order to put a stop to a one-day strike, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has urged its members at the Manhyia District Hospital to resume their full shifts as of today, December 3, 2022.

    The walkout occurred in response to an event in which the father of a young doctor at the clinic mistreated a nurse.

    The father just so happened to be Alex Opoku-Mensah, director of the National Service Secretariat’s (NSS) Ashanti Region.

    The GRNMA ordered the strike after a 72-hour ultimatum calling for the sacking of Opoku-Mensah elapsed with the NSS only suspending him pending a probe.

    The strike brought activities at the hospital to a halt as multiple media outlets reported that some patients were referred to other facilities whiles others nearing recovery were discharged to continue treatment at home.

    The latest development was occasioned by an intervention on the part of the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.

    In a statement confirming that they had called off the strike, the Association said: “it has called off its strike in Manhyia District Hospital and the intended road map for a full scale industrial action to allow the committee set by the National Service Secretariat to carry out its mandate and to ensure that our patients and clients do not suffer unduly.”

    Find their press release below:

    ‘This has never been my style’ – Ashanti Regional NSS director issues apology for ‘mishap’

    Alex Opoku-Mensah, who has been caught in the middle of an altercation that he had with a nurse issued an apology after the almost 10-minute exchange went viral on social media.

    In the audio recording of the incident, Mr. Alex Poku-Mensah is heard hurling insults and threats at the nurse for allegedly intimidating his daughter, who is a house officer at the hospital.

    But in an apology shared on his Facebook page, Alex Poku-Mensah stated that what happened was not his style.

    “I understand the disappointment and appreciate the inconvenience my action has caused the general public as well as the nursing fraternity and Manhyia Hospital.

    “This has never been my style but for a genuine reason to mediate a persistent issue between my daughter (doctor) and a colleague nurse who I as well consider my daughter,” he wrote.

    He described what happened as a ‘mishap’ and asked for forgiveness.

    “I do apologize for any mishap and assure all, there shall not be a repetition of such. I look forward to maintaining a cordial relationship between any affected person,” he added.

  • Manwerehene urges striking Manhyia hospital nurses to return to post

    Nurses at the Manhyia Hospital have been urged by the Manwerehene of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Baafuor (Dr) Ossei Hyeaman Brentuo VI, to end their ongoing strike.

    He claimed that because the Manhyia Hospital serves as the first port of call for local chiefs, a strike would worry the traditional leaders who live in Manhyia.

    After giving the government a 72-hour ultimatum to fire Alex Opoku-Mensah, the director of the Ashanti Regional National Service Secretariat, the nurses at the Manhyia Hospital began an indefinite strike action earlier today.

    Their request follows Mr. Opoku-verbal Mensah’s abuse of the on-duty nurse for treating his daughter disrespectfully.

    The Manwerehene described the circumstance as really unfortunate in an interview with JoyNews.

    “It is a very unfortunate situation but I trust that if we appeal to the feuding parties, specially the nurses that are now set to go on strike, we’ll plead with them to just have some patience for us. I called the Medical Superintendent who informed me that attempts have been made to resolve it.

    “Unfortunately, it looks like the decision to stop the strike should come from above. The leadership of the nurses association has come up with the decision based upon what they think has been unfairly done to one of their members. We will plead with them.

    “Manhyia Hospital is our first point of call. Almost all the chiefs who come to Manhyia or those that reside in Manhyia go there.”

    The CEO also promised that the required actions will be done to prevent similar issues in the future.
    Meanwhile, the Manwerehene has stated that he has reached out to senior members within the palace to help find a solution to the problem.

  • Lydia Forson, other celebrities wade into NSS boss – Manhyia hospital brouhaha

    Ghanaians have been reacting to the audio of the Ashanti Regional NSS director, Alex Opoku-Mensah, verbally abusing a nurse at the Manhyia Hospital.

    They two were engaged in a heated argument. This according to reports occurred after the nurse called the daughter of the NSS boss who is a house officer to suggest a change in prescription because what the latter prescribed was unavailable at the pharmacy.

    According to further reports the house officer took offence at how the nurse spoke with her, thus protested.

    Further reports indicate that the house officer was 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.”

    The NSS director has come under heavy fire over this act. Scores of celebrities have been commenting on the development. Actress Lydia Forson has condemned the act, stressing that there was no justification for it.

    Reacting to a comment from a netizen who accused the actress of not knowing the facts of the matter before commenting on it, she said “what FACTS will justify his presence there and the things he said? Even if the nurse was rude, intimidating and all the other allegations against her; it did NOT warrant the things the father said or his presence there. That’s the case here, nothing more.”

    Ghanaian presenter, Bridget Otoo also reacted to the issue.

    Meanwhile, management of the National Service Secretariat (NSS) has taken up the matter. It announced in a statement on November 29, 2022 that it has commenced investigations into the matter.

    Currently NSS has indicated that it has invited its Ashanti Regional Director for preliminary investigations.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • NSS summons Ashanti Region boss for investigation over Manhyia Hospital brouhaha

    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.

    NSS summons Ashanti Region boss for investigation

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

    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.

  • GMA calls for calm following NSS Director controversy at Manhyia District Hospital

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for calm after the Ashanti Regional Director for the National Service Scheme, Alex Opoku-Mensah, verbally abused a nurse at the Manhyia District Hospital because of a reported dispute with his daughter, who is a junior doctor.

    The GMA is worried that sharing pictures of the young doctor who is under horsemanship on social media could jeopardize her career.

    “I am not happy with the way the doctor is being subjected to such an emotional trauma,” Dr. Frank Ankobea, the GMA President, said to Citi News.

    “This is a young doctor who started work barely two weeks ago. She is young. She is now actually starting her career and I think we should support her. If we are only looking at what the father has done, we will throw away the baby with the bath water.”

    “So it is important that all of us be measured in the kind of comments we pass and how we comment on these issues, and remember that somebody’s career is at stake,” Dr. Ankobea added.

    Meanwhile, the management of the Manhyia District Hospital says it is offering psychological support to the doctor and the nurse involved in the issue and has asked them to stop working for a while.

    Ashanti Regional Director for the National Service Scheme has apologised for the incident after nurses demanded that he should be sacked.

    The National Service Scheme has since said it has initiated investigations into the conduct of its Ashanti Regional Director.

     

  • ‘I proudly studied General Arts’ – Sosu mocks Ashanti Regional NSS boss

    Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina, has stated that the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Scheme [NSS] is suffering from what he calls a ‘superiority complex’.

    This was after Alex Opoku-Mensah had stated in a Facebook post that the MP was suffering from an ‘inferiority complex’ in a January 19 post.

    Sosu decided to respond to the NSS boss, Opoku-Mensah after he verbally assaulted a nurse on duty at the Manhyia District Hospital for allegedly speaking rudely with a house officer who is his daughter.

    The NSS boss in a recorded audio is heard calling the said nurse a disappointed science student, adding that if he had the power, no General Arts student would be given the opportunity to be a nurse unless they study Science or Home Economics.

    The MP shared a screenshot of Opoku-Mensah’s post which read “This Madina MP is suffering from [an] inferiority complex!” in a tweet on Tuesday, November 29, he added that he had proudly studied General Arts through which be became a lawyer and an economic policy management expert.

    Sosu in an advice to the embattled NSS boss said “pride kills”.

    “Ah well. I proudly studied General Arts. Ended with Law and Economic Policy Management. This man is obviously suffering from ‘SUPERIORITY COMPLEX’. This was what he said about me in Jan 2022. Pride kills,” Francis-Xavier Sosu tweeted.

    Ah well. I proudly studied General Arts. Ended with Law and Economic Policy Management. This man is obviously suffering from ‘SUPERIORITY COMPLEX’. This was what he said about me in Jan 2022. Pride kills. ????????????????. pic.twitter.com/ZvbYyaSsyS

    — Francis-Xavier Sosu (@fx_sosu) November 29, 2022

    Meanwhile, David Tenkorang Twum, General Secretary, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has said that the Association will embark on a strike if the Ashanti Regional NSS boss is not dismissed.

    The Management of the National Service Scheme has, however, invited Opoku-Mensah for preliminary investigations into the matter.

  • Ashanti Regional NSS boss’ apology hollow, forget it – GRNMA

    David Tenkorang Twum, General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), has described the apology of the Ashanti Regional Director National Service Scheme (NSS), Alex Opoku-Mensah, in relation to a viral audio, as hollow.

    The GRNMA has issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the dismissal of the Ashanti Regional NSS boss for verbally assaulting a nurse on duty at the Manhyia District Hospital for allegedly speaking rudely with a house officer who is his daughter.

    The GRNMA further indicated that if the NSS fails to dismiss its regional boss, the Association would embark on a strike.

    The NSS boss in recorded audio is heard calling the said nurse a disappointed science student, adding that if he had the power, no General Arts student would be given the opportunity to be a nurse unless persons who study Science or Home Economics.

    David Tenkorang Twum in an interview with Accra-based Joy FM said though the NSS boss has rendered an unqualified apology, the Association would not accept such an apology because it was a mere play on words.

    “Forget about his apology; his apology was hollow and as far as I am concerned, he was playing with words,” he said.

    When asked whether it was necessary for the nurses to lay down their tools over an issue that could be settled amicably, Mr. Twum indicated that the nurses at the Manhyia District Hospital where the incident occurred wanted to lay down their tools, but for the timely intervention of the leadership of GRNMA.

    He also recounted a similar incident two years ago, where nurses have been abused by families of patients but this time, he noted that the Association is willing to put an end to that phenomenon.

    “Two years ago, a community health nurse was trapped to death, and as I speak with you, it has not been resolved. Its starts like this, we do not want to be reactive, but proactive. The man actually threatened the young lady. So it’s not just about the insults and the uncouth behaviour that he exhibited, but we think there is a need to protect nurses and midwives,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has invited Mr. Opoku-Mensah for preliminary investigations into the matter.

     

  • That is not my style –Head of Ashanti Regional NSS sorry for insulting nurses

    The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat (NSS), Alex Opoku-Mensah has made an unqualified apology for verbally assaulting a nurse at the Manhyia Hospital.

    The Nurse corrected his daughter’s wrongful prescription for a two-year-old convulsion patient.

    Mr Opoku-Mensah stated on Facebook that the method he used to deal with the conflict between his daughter, a doctor, and the nurse “has never been my style.”

    He attempted to mediate the dispute between the two because he considered the nurse involved to be his daughter as well.

    He was therefore remorseful of his behaviour.

    “I do apologise for any mishap and assure all, there shall not be a repetition of such,” he promised.

    On Monday morning, Mr Opoku Mensah was reported to have barged into the surgical ward of the hospital, where his daughter is currently serving as a house officer, to verbally abuse and threaten the nurse.

    According to eyewitnesses, the medical officer prescribed the wrong dosage for a two-year-old convulsion patient.

    The nurse upon noticing the medical blunder called on the young doctor to rectify the wrongful medication.

    However, sources say the house officer took offence and reported the issue to her father who later visited the health facility to angrily insult the nurse.

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has since issued a statement calling for the immediate removal of the 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.

  • ‘This has never been my style’ – Ashanti NSS Director issues apology for ‘mishap’

    The National Service Scheme Director in the Ashanti Region, Alex Opoku-Mensah, who has been caught in the middle of an altercation that he had with a nurse at the Manhyia Hospital, has issued an apology.

    This follows a viral audio that captured the NSS director on tape verbally attacking a staff nurse at the Manhyia District Hospital.

    In the audio recording of the incident, Mr. Alex Poku-Mensah is heard hurling insults and threats at the nurse for allegedly intimidating his daughter, who is a house officer at the hospital.

    But in an apology shared on his Facebook page, Alex Poku-Mensah stated that what happened was not his style.

    “I understand the disappointment and appreciate the inconvenience my action has caused the general public as well as the nursing fraternity and Manhyia Hospital.

    “This has never been my style but for a genuine reason to mediate a persistent issue between my daughter (doctor) and a colleague nurse who I as well consider my daughter,” he wrote.

    He described what happened as a ‘mishap’ and asked for forgiveness.

    “I do apologize for any mishap and assure all, there shall not be a repetition of such. I look forward to maintaining a cordial relationship between any affected person,” he added.

    Read his full statement below:

    Background:

    The Ashanti Regional Director for the National Service Secretariat, Mr. Alex Poku Mensah, has been captured on tape verbally attacking a staff nurse at the Manhyia District Hospital.

    In the audio recording of the incident, Mr. Alex Poku Mensah is heard hurling insults and threats at the nurse for allegedly intimidating his daughter, who is a house officer at the hospital.

    According to multiple reports, the said nurse is said to have called Mr Poku Mensah’s daughter on phone to inform her about the need for her to return to the facility to update a patient’s record on the hospital’s patient management system.

    But the regional NSS director, in the company of his daughter, stormed the hospital to accuse the nurse of intimidation.

    Mr. Poku Mensah, in a heated exchange with the nurse, is heard verbally attacking her while touting his position and threatening to transfer the nurse from the hospital.

    “If she does anything, come and inform me; I will use my power to ensure she is removed from here. I’ve introduced myself; I am the National Service Regional Director,” Mr. Opoku is heard shouting at the nurse.

    The nurse in return is heard saying, “do you also know me? Do you know my father?” To which a furious Mr. Opoku retorted, saying, “Fool, does the work belong to your father?”

    Meanwhile, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association GRNMA has called for the sacking of Mr Alex Poku from office.

    According to the association, the conduct of the Regional NSS Director at the Manhyia Hospital makes him unfit to occupy the position.

    The association has warned that it will recall the services of its members at the hospital if the government fails to heed the demand for his dismissal within 72 hours.

    “We wish to state categorically that if the government does not relieve Mr. Alex Poku Mensah of his duty as Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Scheme within 72 hours, nurses and midwives of Manhyia Hospital will be called upon to lay down their tools, followed by the whole of Ashanti Region and then it will be escalated to the whole nation,” the Association said in the statement dated November 29, 2022.