THIS SERVES TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT SOME REGULATORY ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL COUNCIL FROM DECEMBER 2021 – JANUARY, 2022
BACKGROUND
The Medical and Dental Council (MDC) has been conducting regulatory quality assurance monitoring exercises aimed at ascertaining, among others, the registration status of practitioners and the standard of practice in various institutions across the country.
PART I – REGULATORY ACTIONS
- Arrest of Quack doctor/Fraudster Bright Afful at Agona Swedru
The Council received several allegations to the effect that some individuals have been collecting monies from some foreign trained doctors who apply to write Council’s Pre-registration examinations. The said persons collect monies from the candidates under the pretext that they can help them pass the examinations. The fraudsters claim to have links with some top officials at the Council on whose behalf they collect the monies so that they can secure the questions for them before they sit for the Pre-registration examinations, and or help influence the outcome of the results.
Preliminary investigations revealed that one “Dr” Bright Afful was a key person behind these dealings.
It was observed that the suspect also organises medical outreaches and screening programmes at various rural communities where he takes some of the foreign trained doctors along to participate in the exercises. Our preliminary investigations showed some of the places they visited included villages around Cape Coast, Akwatia, and Agona Swedru.
The suspect is alleged to charges his victims from Gh¢1,000.00 to Gh¢20,000 and the money is paid in whole or instalments over a period.
Council’s investigator was charged Ten Thousand Ghana cedis (Gh¢10,000.00) by the suspect (Bright Afful) to assist him change his results. During the negotiation the suspect informed the investigator that the former Registrar took Seven Thousand Ghana Cedis (7,000.00) from candidates before their results were changed but the current Registrar is demanding Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢10,000) to do same. With the assistance of a team of officers from the Agona Swedru Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service, the suspect was arrested on 24th December, 2021.
Status of the Case
The suspect was remanded for further investigations. He reappeared in court on Tuesday, 11th January, 2022 at the Cape Coast Circuit Court 1. He was granted bail in the sum of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢100,000) with two sureties, one to be justified having a landed property worth the bail sum and the second to be a government worker earning not less than Three Thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢3,000) a month. The accused is to report to the Police once every week until the final determination of the case. The case has been adjourned to 10th February, 2022.
- Arrest of Quack Doctor, Samuel Owusu at Adentan New Site on Thursday, 30th December, 2021
The Council received information that one Samuel Owusu was practising medicine illegally.
Investigations conducted revealed that the suspect does a lot of things including illegal abortions for his clients. The suspect was operating from a pharmacy called Kwaowus Pharmacy owned by him at his residence at Adentan New Site.
The suspect charged an amount of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (Gh¢500.00) to terminate a pregnancy for the investigator.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, Mr. Samuel Owusu is a quack doctor. The suspect was subsequently arrested with the assistance of the Adentan Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service.
During police interrogations the suspect claimed to have received his training in medicine in Nigeria, but his certificate raises a lot of doubts because it was issued by a private hospital and not a health training institution.
The pharmacy has since been closed down in the interest of public health, safety and wellbeing.
Status of the Case
The suspect was taken to Court at the Adentan Circuit Court on 31st December, 2021 and was remanded into Police custody to reappear on the 4th January, 2022. On this date, the accused was granted bail in the sum of Sixty Thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh¢60,000) with three sureties, one to be justified. The accused is to report himself to the Police every Tuesday until the final determination of the case. The case has been adjourned to 31st January, 2022.
SPECIAL COLLABORATIONS
The Council wishes to make special mention of the substantial support and special collaboration that it has enjoyed over the period from other security agencies in particular the Economic and Organized Crime Office, the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Police Service. This has helped a great deal to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of Council’s regulatory mandate.
ASSURANCE
The Council assures the public that it will, with dedication, continue to work with all stakeholders to guide the profession, promote, protect, and assure public health, safety and well-being of all persons accessing healthcare in Ghana.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Council wishes to thank all stakeholders for their continued support and cooperation: in particular, the Ministry of Health, the EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, Ministry of National Security the Judicial Service, and members of the public who provide valuable information for our regulatory activities.
The Public and members of the professions are encouraged to continue to support Council’s regulatory efforts by providing information about the conduct and competence of practitioners through:
Cell : 0200 369 407
Fixed Line : +233 303 661 606 / +233 303 661 620
Members of the public may also report directly to our head office located at Adjabeng, Accra-central and our zonal offices:
1) Tamale, located at the Regional Health Directorate; Tamale (0507231540)
2) Kumasi, located Adum-Kumasi (Tel: 0503964085)
3) Takoradi, located at Fijai, same compound with Our Lady’s Clinic (Dr. Amoah’s Clinic – 0202493884)