On Monday, 28th November, 2022, an audio recording of an incident which occurred at the Manhyia District Hospital, Kumasi, between Mr. Alex Opoku-Mensah (the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Scheme) and a nurse of the hospital, went viral on social and other electronic media platforms.
In the said audio, Mr. Opoku-Mensah was heard verbally assaulting the nurse, passing unsavory comments about the nursing profession, and threatening to use his office to cause the transfer of the nurse from the facility, among others. This attracted wide public condemnation.
A press statement was issued by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association urging its members to embark on an industrial action if the government failed to dismiss Mr. Opoku Mensah within 72 hours.
After analyzing the content of the audio, Management considered the actions of Mr. Alex Opoku-Mensah to be in breach of the Code of Conduct of the Ghana National Service Scheme (GNSS) and the Public Services generally, and consequently suspended him, for a Committee of Enquiry made up of representatives from the Public Services Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, National Labour Commission and the GNSS, to investigate the matter and submit recommendations.
After two (2) weeks of sitting and a visit to the Manhyia District Hospital, the Committee submitted its report to Management on Monday, 19th December, 2022 for subsequent referral to the GNSS Governing Board.
At its sitting on Wednesday 21st December 2022, the Board extensively deliberated the report and unanimously approved the Committee’s recommendations as follows:
i. Mr. Alex Opoku-Mensah should be suspended for two (2) calendar months without pay.
ii. After the suspension, Mr. Opoku Mensah should be moved to the Head Office to work under supervision; and
iii. Mr. Opoku-Mensah should be made to issue an official apology to the National Service Scheme for bringing the name of the institution into disrepute.
Management is therefore taking the necessary steps to ensure that all the directives of the Board are complied with.
The Management of the Scheme wishes to express its appreciation to the individuals and entities who assisted in diverse ways to help bring closure to this unfortunate episode.
We also wish to assure the public of our commitment to espousing the virtues of leadership, patriotism, civic duty, and voluntarism among the youth at all times.
