For verbally harassing a nurse at the Manhyia Government Hospital, the director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in the Ashanti Region, Alex Opoku Mensah, has been suspended for two months without pay.
Following an emergency meeting after the incident in November 2022, the NSS on December 1, 2022, temporarily suspended him to allow for investigations.
However, according to a recent instruction from the NSS, Mr. Opoku-Mensah has been placed on paid leave for a period of two months. The suspension is effective right away.
This occurred when a committee finished its task and turned in its report to Management.
According to reports, Mr. Opoku-Mensah verbally assaulted a nurse over how the medical professional interacted with his daughter, who works as a doctor at the facility.
Because the medication the house officer had ordered wasn’t available at the pharmacy, the nurse had to call him to change a prescription.
The house officer reportedly objected because of how the nurse spoke to her, according to the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Hussein.
When the house officer called the nurse on the phone, Dr. Hussein said that she just so happened to be with her father. As a result, Mr. Opoku-Mensah was furious about the situation and went with his daughter to the hospital.
Alex Opoku-Mensah has since apologised for his actions and said he is not known to be abusive or violent.
In an audio recording that has gone viral, Mr Opoku-Mensah said, “you are very frustrated…Who born dog?…you envy her, and 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 the National Service Scheme. Some of you are under me.”
But the headquarters of the scheme would have none of that as the situation triggered an uproar from some health associations.
The latest development also demands that the embattled Ashanti Regional boss apologises to the NSS for bringing its name into disrepute through his action.