‘My dismissal a travesty of justice, reverse it – KATH whistleblower prays High Court

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The finance officer who was sacked by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after accusing management of misusing COVID-19 donations is challenging his dismissal in court.

Mr. Awuni Akyireba wants the High Court to reverse the decision of the Governing Board of the KATH describing its action as procedurally wrong.

In a court document widely shared online, Mr. Akyireba’s lawyers are seeking “an order of Judicial Review in the nature of Certiorari to quash the decision of the Governing Board of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, dated December, 20, 2021.”

Mr. Akyireba had dragged the hospital to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over alleged misuse of COVID-19 donations by the hospital’s CEO and its Medical Officer.Mr Awuni believes the development is a clear case of witch-hunting.

“There has been a commission of travesty of justice. Justice has been trampled upon. How can you pass judgement on a person when you have not heard from his side? When criminals are arrested they are subjected to the judicial processes…So how can an employee who has worked for an institution for the past eleven years on the account that I seek for accountability from these public officers who have sought to put their comfort and pleasure ahead of the challenges facing the hospital”, Awuni told Accra-based Asaase Radio.

“So I want the intervention of the court seeking to quash that decision…I think I have been treated unfairly, justice has not been served and due process has not been followed [by my employers]”, he added.

KATH mounts strong defense

But the hospital has defended its decision. A spokesperson at KATH, Mr. Kwame Frimpong maintains the hospital acted in good faith.

Responding to this development however, Mr. Frimpong told Citi FM that said the hospital was yet to sight the suit.

“We will look at it tomorrow [Wednesday] if it is available and forward it to our lawyers, and he should expect a robust response from the hospital.”

He reiterated the hospital’s denial of the allegations, saying it had been transparent with the donations.

“Management has on several occasions accounted for how these donations we utilised. Again, there have been two independent audits of these funds.”

He also said Mr. Akyireba had benefited from multiple second chances after infractions.

“There is no staff in this hospital who has had that opportunity to amend his or her conduct. So it is not true that there is a witch-hunt against him.”

The hospital in an earlier letter said Mr. Akyireba had engaged in other acts of misconduct and was said to have used “abusive language” towards a superior.

Mr. Akyireba is also said to have avoided the physical service of an invitation to appear before the Disciplinary Committee.

“For avoiding physical service of invitation to appear before the Disciplinary Committee and eventually failing/refusing to appear despite glaring evidence that you saw the invitation, you commit a major offense under the Code,” the letter said.

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH