The group also called for the release of the findings of a fact-finding committee set up by the Mental Health Authority to investigate allegations against Dr Dordoye.

Addressing a news conference at the hospital in Cape Coast yesterday, the spokesperson of the group, Mr Malcolm Ali, said, “Notice is hereby and duly served to the various stakeholders to hear the voices of the nurses and act accordingly; if not, we will advise ourselves by abandoning the wards and the OPD.”

News conference

The nurses, who wore red armbands, left their posts and attended the news conference to support their executive.

Staff of the Ankaful Hospital, the greater percentage of whom are nurses, on October 20, this year, petitioned the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, to remove Dr Dordoye as the Director of the hospital, on the grounds that his style of administration was oppressive and that he was psychologically traumatising the staff, among other allegations of mismanagement.

The group, which is a member of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, made a plethora of accusations against Dr Dordoye, among which was “trampling upon the fundamental human rights of the nurses”.

Mr Ali, who is also the Secretary of the group, claimed that Dr Dordoye made derogatory remarks about staff, particularly the nurses, adding that: “He accuses staff wrongly and demeans us in the presence of student nurses, patients and their relatives.”

Frustration

Mr Ali further accused the director of frustrating the psychiatric nurses in the hospital. “He has refused to allow the group to use the conference hall for its meetings, describing the group as a welfare group and as such can’t use working hours for meetings, when in fact, the hospital operates 24/7,” the spokesperson said.
The group also alleged the misuse of the hospital’s scarce resources by Mr Dordoye and called for a forensic audit of the hospital’s finances.

“The staff of Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital, particularly the nursing staff, are going through hell in the hands of the hospital director. We are emotionally and psychologically breaking down. We do not have peace of mind to cater for our patients. We need peace; we need a sound mind to care for our patients,” the group said.
Meanwhile, Dr Dordoye declined to comment on the allegations raised at the news conference when the Daily Graphic contacted him in his office for his reaction.
He told this reporter that since the matter was before a committee, it would not be proper to comment on the issue.

Attempts to see the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Kwabena Osei, proved futile as he was said to be “busy at a management meeting”.