Gov’t chases two for stealing GHC500m from hospital

The Ghana Health Service is chasing two hospital officials who allegedly diverted over GHC500 million meant to buy drugs and logistics into their personal accounts.

The two Asilenudzi Hayford and Francis Dagbale are reported to have altered 96 signed cheques by changing the original figures.

This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, at the Public Accounts Committee hearing on Thursday.

Speaking about one of them, Alex Segbefia said he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment but was in lieu of that made to pay GHC2,500, “so he paid the amount and was released which has left us with the unhealthy position of now going for a civil court to retrieve the money.”

He argued before the PAC that the Ghana Health Service and the hospital should be commended because they’ve done what they ought to do in the fight against corruption in the health sector.

“The matter was reported to the Police, it was investigated and taken to court and the court gave a judgment. Normally in cases like this, in my experience, they give a judgment and they ask for a payment of a full amount and if you don’t pay it, in lieu of that you rather go to jail.

“So you can even be fined but you are also asked to refund the money and your imprisonment will be increased for nonpayment of the money and even when you come out that money will still be owed,” he added.