Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh on Friday,August 1, issued a stern call for improved patient service delivery at Achimota Municipal Hospital, following a surprise visit that revealed long wait times and absentee leadership.
During an unannounced inspection of the facility on August 1, the Minister encountered numerous patients who had reportedly waited hours without receiving care. Complaints ranged from absent doctors to inattentive staff.
“I got here as early as 5 a.m., but I have still not been attended to because the doctor I was assigned to was absent,” one patient said. Another expressed frustration with the conduct of staff, alleging that some employees appeared disengaged. “They are always on their phones, but when you complain, they get offended,” the patient claimed.
Minister Akandoh acknowledged the grievances and promised immediate intervention. “Corrective measures will be taken,” he assured patients, emphasizing that delays in care delivery were unacceptable in a public health facility.
The Minister also expressed concern over the absence of key personnel during his visit, including the Medical Superintendent and the Hospital Administrator. “You can be alternating. If the head is not there, then the assistant should be there,” Akandoh said. “If the key personnel are not around, then who is in control? You don’t do that.”
Achimota Municipal Hospital serves a densely populated area of Accra and plays a critical role in the region’s healthcare system. The Minister’s remarks underscore the government’s growing scrutiny of operational inefficiencies in public health institutions as it pushes to improve service quality and accountability nationwide.
