MP’s Surprise Visit Forces Korle Bu to Fix Decade-Long Elevator Failure in Just 10 Hours

Parliamentary oversight has yielded positive results at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) after the hospital management swiftly repaired a malfunctioning elevator in the Department of Surgery, which had been out of service for several years.

This prompt action came less than 10 hours after Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Ghana’s Parliament, paid an unannounced visit to the facility and issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the issue to be resolved.

During his visit on Monday, September 2, 2024, Mr. Akandoh inspected the surgical department, where his authority was initially questioned by some top management officials due to the lack of prior notice. In a viral video, Dr. Adu Aryee, a surgeon at the facility, challenged the MP, asking, “I don’t know you. Who are you? Do you have any letter introducing you? I have never met you in my life.”

Following the encounter, the Juaboso lawmaker expressed his frustration to the media, highlighting the negligence of the hospital management and its detrimental impact on patient care.

He explained, “It came to the public’s attention that Korle Bu has indefinitely suspended elective surgeries due to faulty lifts. This morning, I decided to pay a surprise visit to see the situation for myself. Unfortunately, the lifts are not working. We are here at the Department of Surgery, and the lift has been down for four to five years.”

He continued, “It is unconscionable for a major hospital, especially a teaching hospital like Korle Bu, to neglect its duty in maintaining a lift that is essential for patient care. I am calling on the government and the Minister of Health to address this issue immediately. Surgeries cannot be suspended indefinitely. Within the next 24 hours, we must see an end to this unacceptable situation.”

In response to the MP’s visit, the hospital management announced via a Facebook post that the elevator had been successfully repaired and was now fully functional.

By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh