The summons was issued by the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, who also called on the former Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and the accountant involved in the transaction to appear before the Committee.

This follows revelations by the Auditor-General on April 1, 2026, indicating that the amount was paid despite no physical work being carried out on the project.

According to the Auditor-General’s findings presented to the PAC, the payment was made on December 31, 2024, during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The report further noted that Dr. Okoe-Boye signed the contract for the hospital project during his tenure as Health Minister.

Appearing before the Committee on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the current DACF Administrator, Michael Yamson, attributed the delay in execution to a change in the project’s location—from the parliamentary precincts to the premises of National Security.

However, the explanation did not satisfy members of the Committee, with Mr. Atta Mills insisting on further accountability.

“Hon. Okoe-Boye will also have to appear and let us know. The company that took the money should also appear. Because GH¢20 million—what time are they going to build the hospital?” he questioned.

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Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, February 21, 2026, Dr. Okoe Boye explained that emergency departments are inherently high-risk financial centres. These units provide immediate, life-saving care often without guaranteed payment, creating significant bad debt exposure for both private and quasi-public hospitals.

“Beyond the concerns of infrastructure and the lack of equipment, a major issue in the sector is health financing,” he said, highlighting that the current model forces emergency referrals and can push hospitals into unsustainable debt.

Dr. Okoe Boye illustrated the problem using the example of an accident victim admitted to Focus Hospital, a private facility equipped with advanced capabilities. Despite its expertise, patients are often required to make substantial deposits—sometimes up to GH¢50,000—before treatment can begin.

“If nobody can raise that amount of money, Focus Hospital would like to move you to Ridge Hospital because that is a government facility,” he explained, noting that public hospitals can absorb part of the financial burden when bills go unpaid.

He stressed that emergency care cannot be delayed for financial clearance, yet private facilities operating under strict financial models struggle to sustain prolonged unpaid care.

Dr. Okoe Boye also cited Bank Hospital, describing it as one of Ghana’s best-equipped hospitals comparable to facilities in the United States.

Despite government support during construction, the hospital operates on a self-financing model and requires deposits to maintain operations. Similarly, some patients initially admitted to private facilities are later transferred to Police Hospital, not due to lack of expertise or equipment, but because families cannot meet financial demands.

“In this case, the referral is not because they do not have the expertise and equipment, but because of finance,” he emphasised.

As a solution, Dr. Okoe Boye proposed the creation of a dedicated emergency healthcare fund financed partly through motor insurance contributions.

“Going forward, when we pay motor insurance, a percentage should be put into a fund—like the Mahama Care Fund—where any emergency case can be handled at any private hospital, at least for a number of days,” he suggested.

He argued that such a fund would allow accident victims to receive immediate life-saving care at private facilities without being prematurely transferred due to financial constraints.

“If your life could have been saved, the agreed time could at least save you,” he concluded.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Friday, November 28, Dr Okoe Boye strongly defended the relevance of the drone service, insisting that Zipline remains one of the fastest and most reliable lifelines for health facilities that lack urgent medical supplies.

“If a centre does not have a blood-related product and needs it urgently, when you WhatsApp Zipline, they will fly with the stock they have and drop the vaccine at the hospital compound,” he explained. “By doing this, you save time calling people. If you have to drive five hours, it could be done by Zipline in 25 minutes.”

He criticised what he described as excessive politicisation of the programme, noting that claims suggesting drones are used to deliver inappropriate items only serve to discredit a system that has saved numerous lives.

“This talk is an attempt to ridicule the whole project and throw it away. Sometimes, too much politics can endanger lives,” he said.

Dr Okoe Boye stressed that leadership must prioritise strengthening life-saving systems rather than attacking them for political gain.

“The essence of a politician or a leader is not to rest and make yourself comfortable but to work so hard that those far away from you can receive some help when they need it most,” he added.

His remarks come amid increased scrutiny of Zipline’s operations in Parliament. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has called for the termination of the government’s contract with the company, describing it as a waste of state resources.

The debate heightened after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin demanded that the Health Minister appear before Parliament next week to update the House on efforts to revive Zipline operations at three centres that have been shut down due to the government’s GH¢175 million indebtedness.

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The clarification comes amid growing exchanges between the two officials over the management and performance of the LHIMS project — a system developed to digitise patient records nationwide.

Dr. Okoe Boye had earlier maintained that Lightwave is a fully Ghanaian-owned company, stressing that the nation’s health data is securely hosted within the Ministry of Health and not in India, contrary to circulating reports. He also cautioned that government’s decision to introduce a new platform — the Ghana Healthcare Information Management System (GHIMS) — could undermine the gains made under the LHIMS initiative.

Responding in an interview on Citi FM, Mr. Akandoh accused the former minister of misrepresenting his remarks to divert public attention from the core issues surrounding the digital health platform.

“It is very interesting that Okoe Boye is the spokesperson for Lightwave at this point in time. I have never on this earth stated that Lightwave is not a Ghanaian company.

“So Okoe Boye is setting his own questions and answering them. He should play my voice anywhere that I said that company is not a Ghanaian company,” Mr. Akandoh stated.

Speaking to JoyNews at the protest grounds, Dr Okoe Boye said, “We are here because the most fundamental feature of a democracy is being attacked and it’s being threatened. And that fundamental feature is the freedom of speech,” he stated.

The former minister stressed that democracy thrives on tolerance of divergent views, even when expressed crudely.

“By virtue of my level of education, training, and personal values, there is a way I will put a point across which might look to you very proper. But you have others who also want to make a point but might not have the training and intellect to do so. They will speak in a blunt manner, sometimes in an insulting manner, but the beauty of democracy is that all such people are tolerated in society.”

He cautioned against arresting people for their opinions, insisting it sets a dangerous precedent.

“Immediately somebody can be arrested and handcuffed for talking in a way that in another person’s judgment is not proper; it means all of us are in danger. You might think you are speaking well today, but the one in power tomorrow will say that your speech is not proper and that is a threat.”

Dr Okoe Boye added that silencing citizens through fear of arrest could kill Ghana’s dynamism and innovation.

“All democracies or societies that were successful in the past, what made them lose their success was the culture of silence. Because people are being arrested for what they post on TikTok, or how they speak, it will get to a time before someone will talk; the person will think twice… and when people stop speaking, the society is no more dynamic and we will lose our innovativeness and drive.”

He explained that the protest had two key aims: to defend free speech and to push back against what he described as unprofessional conduct by the police.

“We are here for two reasons: to make sure that freedom of speech is protected, and secondly, to protest against the behaviour of institutions like the police, who are expected to be professional and neutral.”

“Why would you say that Chairman Azorka of the NDC has been arrested and given bail when there is no picture of his interaction in his arrest, but when you get Abronye DC, you put him in handcuffs, take a picture, and it goes viral on NDC platforms? Why do you go to Sir Obama, an NPP activist, at 4 a.m., break through his door, and enter his room—not that he has touched or harmed anybody—but because he posted a picture on Facebook? I mean, these are dangerous precedents,” he added.

He concluded by challenging the record of President John Dramani Mahama, suggesting that despite his calm appearance, his administration is presiding over worrying democratic reversals.

“Let’s all be honest. If anybody told you that NDC under President JDM will do this, would you believe it? Look at the nature of President John Mahama on the outside—very calm, very tolerant—yet under him, look at what is happening.”

Background
The protest was largely triggered by the arrest of Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, who serves as the NPP’s Bono Regional Chairman. He was detained on September 8 and charged with offensive conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, as well as publishing false news.

Beyond Abronye’s case, the demonstration also reflects mounting frustrations over what the party describes as intimidation and harassment of its members.

These include incidents involving high-profile figures such as Chairman Wontumi (Bernard Antwi-Boasiako) and a number of social media activists sympathetic to the NPP.

Protesters are demanding an end to what they view as politically motivated arrests and remands that disproportionately affect opposition members.

Source: myjoyonline

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“The EC itself said there was no need for a rerun, and we agreed. Today, they’ve changed their position,” he stated.

He used a metaphor to illustrate his point: “If your brother promised never to smoke but you find him smoking, don’t rush to call him a hypocrite. Ask if a gun was put to his head.”

Dr. Okoe-Boye claimed the EC is facing undue pressure but lamented that public criticism has largely focused on the Commission’s perceived inconsistency rather than the reasons behind its actions.

“This EC is under serious coercion, and because the NPP isn’t in the public’s good books, everyone is quiet,” he argued.

He also alleged political interference, questioning how party leaders could make pronouncements about the fate of institutional heads.

“How can you have a party chairman deciding which heads of institutions must be sacked, saying, ‘The EC head must go’? Enormous pressure has been placed on the EC,” he added.

Turning his attention to Nana Akua Afriyie, the NPP candidate participating in the rerun, Dr. Okoe-Boye expressed empathy, describing her as being in a “difficult emotional state.”

“I know her well. As a physician, I can tell she’s going through a lot mentally. She deserves support,” he said.

The rerun follows months of dispute over the December 2024 parliamentary results, which left Ablekuma North without a Member of Parliament. Both the NPP and NDC claim to have won the seat, making today’s vote crucial for restoring representation in the constituency.

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This appointment will see Dr Okoe Boye serving until December 31, 2026.

The confirmation of his appointment follows a letter dated September 11, 2024, in which the nomination was put forward.

The nomination sought to fill the seat currently held by Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, for the remainder of the term.

The Anglophone Africa constituency was given until 18.00 CET on Friday, September 20, 2024, to express any objections to the nomination.

According to the official letter of appointment, there were no objections raised to Dr Okoe Boye’s nomination, allowing the process to move forward.

The next steps include forwarding the nomination to the Gavi Alliance Governance Committee for consideration and subsequent approval by the Gavi Alliance Board. Once approved, the appointment will be effective immediately.

Dr. Okoe Boye brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Gavi Alliance Board. As Ghana’s Minister of Health, he has been instrumental in leading health initiatives and reforms aimed at improving the healthcare system in the country.

His appointment is expected to strengthen the representation of Anglophone Africa within the Gavi Alliance, a global health partnership committed to increasing access to immunization in poor countries.

Before he was appointed Minister of Health, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance (NHIA), where he led the expansion of the scheme to cover many critical illnesses like childhood cancer et al.

He was also the Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he implemented significant reforms that improved the hospital’s operational efficiency and patient care standards.

As a Public Health Advocate, Dr Okoe Boye has been at the forefront of Ghana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He played a critical role in the nationwide vaccination campaign, which significantly increased the vaccination rate and helped control the spread of the virus. His efforts in promoting public health education and preventive care have also been widely recognised, culminating in the publication of a book titled; “Fellow Ghanaians, Telling Ghana’s Covid-19 Story, A Journey of Fear, Facts, Faith and Fortune.”

The Gavi Alliance Board plays a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction and policies of the organisation.

Dr. Okoe Boye’s participation on the board will provide valuable insights and perspectives from the Anglophone Africa region, ensuring that the unique health challenges and opportunities within this constituency are adequately addressed.

His appointment also reflects Ghana’s continued commitment to playing an active role in global health governance.

The Gavi Alliance Board, through its diverse representation, works towards its mission of saving lives and protecting people’s health by increasing the equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries.

The minister’s contribution is anticipated to further this mission, particularly in the context of the ongoing efforts to enhance immunization coverage and health system resilience in Anglophone Africa.

Dr. Okoe Boye made these remarks during a campaign visit by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to the Lekma Nursing Training College.

Speaking to the students, he urged them to support Dr. Bawumia in the upcoming elections.

He assured the students that under Dr. Bawumia’s leadership, their welfare as nursing students and future healthcare professionals would be a priority, reaffirming the NPP’s commitment to enhancing their conditions.

“The only candidate who can assure you that even if the ‘allawa; delays it will come. The only candidate who will call the minister to prepare the allawa list is Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

“Finally, nurses want to be posted right? When the other man was there, he said posting is not easy but under this NPP government, just recently, more than 50, 000 nurses have been given clearance.

“The other man said that he wants to reset Ghana. Do you have your phones here, when you do reset would you still have anything on your phone? Everything goes back to zero. Reset means allawa will be cancelled. Reset means if you are a nurse, you might end up working somewhere else.

“Now, if you upgrade your phone, you can only add better things to the phone. Dr Bawumia is for an upgrade, the other man is for a reset.

“Which one are we choosing, reset or upgrade? So, my beautiful and handsome student nurses, please don’t only swallow the good news, share it with siblings that the only man who is here to solve our problem is Dr Bawumia,” he stared.

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In a Facebook post, Dr. Okoe-Boye extended his heartfelt condolences to Edward’s family and the O’Reilly community.

He described the loss as “heartbreaking” and offered support to those affected by the tragedy.

Dr. Okoe-Boye called for full cooperation from school authorities and the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Edward’s death.

He expressed confidence that the investigation would be handled with the necessary care and thoroughness, hoping it would lead to measures preventing similar incidents in the future.

He stressed the importance of unity and compassion during this difficult time, urging the community to come together, reflect on their shared humanity, and foster values of compassion and understanding.

Dr. Okoe-Boye concluded with a tribute to Edward: “May Edward’s soul rest in perfect peace, and may his memory remind us of our collective duty to protect our children and ensure the safety of our schools.”

In related news, the La District Court has remanded 18-year-old Godwin into police custody for two weeks in connection with Edward’s death.

Godwin, charged with murder, was arrested on Tuesday, 3 September, and made his first court appearance on Thursday, 5 September 2024.

Godwin is scheduled to reappear in court on Thursday, 19 September 2024, as the investigation continues.

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IOL reports that the visit was organized by the African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI) and focused on enhancing collaboration between Ghana and South Africa to bolster healthcare infrastructure on the continent.

During the visit, the Ghanaian team toured two leading South African companies, Biovac and Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines, to observe their advanced facilities, including research and development laboratories, production lines, and quality control departments. These companies are at the forefront of vaccine development in Africa.

Expressing Ghana’s commitment to the initiative, Dr. Okoe Boye stated, “The Government of Ghana is fully committed to supporting the African manufacturing initiative and working with all stakeholders to build capacity across the continent.”

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This follows a critical intervention by Dr. Okoe Boye to restore power to the Lekma Hospital, which had been disconnected due to an outstanding debt of approximately 3 million cedis, forcing the hospital to rely on its generator for the entire day on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

Dr. Okoe Boye, who is also the former Member of Parliament for the area, swiftly moved to address the power cut through engagements with the Energy Ministry.

The prompt action not only restored power to the hospital but also highlighted the urgent need for a sustainable solution to the financial challenges faced by health facilities in covering their utility costs.

Sources have disclosed that following Dr. Okoe Boye’s intervention, the matter was raised at Cabinet and frantic steps are being taken to address the broader issue of power supply and payment by public health facilities across the country.

According to the Electricity Company of Ghana (EC), a total of 91 health facilities nationwide are indebted to it, with a combined outstanding amount of GH¢261 million.

Among the prominent hospitals listed are the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, and Ridge Hospital in the Greater Accra region; KomfoAnokye and Manhyia Government Hospitals in the Ashanti region; Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta region; and Kibi Government Hospital in the Eastern region.

In an earlier interview on Adom FM, Isaac Baah Offei, the Public Relations Officer of the Health Ministry, noted, “Efforts to settle the debts have been initiated, and meetings are being held with all affected hospitals. We are working closely with the Energy Ministry and ECG to find a sustainable solution to this issue.”

The collaboration between the Health and Energy Ministers is seen as a significant step towards ensuring that health facilities across the country are not disrupted by power cuts due to financial constraints.

The discussions and actions taken by the government are expected to lead to a more stable and reliable healthcare system, benefiting both staff and patients.

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The Minister, during his tour of the Ashanti region, stressed the importance of health facilities in reducing unemployment in the country.

He disclosed the role of health facilities in reducing unemployment, making these remarks during visits to the Fomena Government Hospital in the Adansi North District and the Sekyere Kumawu District Hospital, which began operations in November 2023 and April 2024, respectively.

Both Fomena and Sekyere Kumawu District hospitals are part of a project involving six health facilities and staff accommodations, initiated under a $175 million contract signed with NMS Infrastructure in 2012.

“I hear people say let’s create jobs and one of the best ways to create jobs is to put up a health facility. You will have to recruit new professionals but you also need those who don’t have special skills but can be trained to be of use in the hospital and I believe that one of the ways to create opportunities for the youth is to invest in the health sector, especially in health facilities” Mr. Boye added.

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He said although “we will not have the money to do it all at once, we must try hard and do our best to ensure the health of the people is prioritized.

“I have realized that things are improving in the financial sector, from now on, try and confer with the Finance Ministry to help raise money to complete the other projects in the country to see to it that the agenda 111 projects are completed on schedule,” the King instructed.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when a delegation from the Ministry of Health, led by the sector Minister, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, called on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, as part of his working visit to the Ashanti region.

“I have been to Sewua Hospital, I see no reason you should not get work done. Workers on site are saying it is power, others are blaming the delays on the road network, and meanwhile, the Government has spent huge sums to install hospital equipment at the facility.

“When I probed why it is still not operational, the reasons were for the lack of power and poor road network, if this is not fixed on time, the equipment installed will go to waste with time,” the Asantehene bemoaned.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said if hospitals such as the one at Sewua were in operation, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) could have sent some of its patients there to facilitate the smooth and uninterrupted implementation of the ‘Heal the KATH’ project.

He said the KNUST Teaching Hospital was one such project stalled and called on the Health Minister to fast-track its completion for use.

He said although Fomena and Kumawu hospitals were now operational, works going on at Trede should also be prioritized.

Dr Okoe-Boye, in response, commended the Asantehene for initiating the ‘Heal KATH’ project to ensure advanced healthcare delivery.

He said the Government was doing everything possible to complete all ongoing health projects in the region.

The Minister later visited the KATH and inspected the ongoing construction site of the KATH Maternity and Children’s block.

In an interaction with the management of KATH, he stressed a need for prompt actions to operationalize the Afari Military and Sewua hospitals to be able to decongest KATH.

He suggested that the Ghana Health Service could sign a memorandum of understanding, with the Teaching Hospital, which could spell out some modalities by way of directing some exceptional care services to facilities such as Sewua Hospital to be able to further ease the pressure on KATH.

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The committee comprises the Deputy Director-General of GHS, a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon from Ridge Hospital, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Social Welfare Department, and a senior Nurse Manager.

The committee’s task is to determine the full circumstances of the case and recommend appropriate actions.

The investigation will focus on establishing the patient’s identity and background, reviewing the events leading to the patient’s admission the Trauma and Specialist Hospital, and examining the diagnosis and management at the hospital.

It will also scrutinize the processes involved in the patient’s discharge and transportation to Ojobi, identify all individuals involved in these actions, and report on any other relevant issues arising from the incident.

The Health Minister charged the committee thorough investigation to uncover all aspects of the case and ensure accountability.

The committee is expected to provide comprehensive recommendations to prevent similar occurrences and improve patient care standards at healthcare facilities under the GHS.

This initiative is part of the Health Minister’s action to address the matter.

This follows a statement issued by the Ministry of Health confirming the receipt of GHC 7,429,694.39 from the Ministry of Finance for the payment of demurrage and other third-party charges to ensure the clearance of all outstanding Global Fund containers.

The Ministry emphasised the importance of this funding in its recent statement, stating, “It is expected that with the funds received, all outstanding containers will be cleared by the end of June 2024.”

However, in an interview with the media during a project inspection visit to the La General Hospital and Weija Children’s Hospital (both under construction), Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye indicated he was taking a personal interest in the matter and would not rest until the goods were cleared.

To that end, a meeting with the Ministry of Finance and the GRA on Friday, June 14, resolved that the clearance would be expedited to ensure the delivery of these life-saving medications, medical equipment, and other essential health commodities. This move aims to ensure these supplies are readily available to safeguard public health.

This demonstrates the minister’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring timely access to vital health supplies.

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During a recent visit to the new Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Oppong-Peprah, Dr. Boye reminisced about the crucial role played by the army in combating the pandemic.

He recounted nights filled with challenges, including flying logistics to the Northern region where he personally accompanied military personnel to distribute supplies.

Reflecting on his experiences as a member of the COVID-19 task force, Dr. Boye expressed gratitude for the frontline workers’ dedication and courage.

He revealed that, a book documenting Ghana’s experiences during the two to three-year period of the pandemic is now completed and ready for publication.

“As a member of the COVID-19 task force, I remember the key role that was played by the army. In fact, I remember those dark nights when logistics had to be flown to the north. I remember coming to the Air Force base to fly with your men to go and distribute some of the items. They were frontline workers taking the risk and confronting the virus, and because I was part of the whole battle, by the grace of God, I went through some challenging assignments to put together all our experiences as a country during the two to three years that the virus roamed within our borders. Finally, a book is ready.”

For his part, Lt. Gen. Oppong-Peprah underscored the need for Ghana to be ready for future pandemics, proposing the establishment of a biomedical unit within the Armed Forces.

He stressed the military’s role in promptly responding to outbreaks to avoid being caught unprepared, and expressed his intent to pursue this initiative during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff.

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At a brief management meeting held at the head office conference room, the Board Chair, Dr Ernest K. P. Kwarko, informed Management of the Board’s decision to follow the best administrative practice to ensure a smooth transition to the new Chief Executive.

The Board Chair formally introduced the Mr Okoe Boye as a worthy team player and encouraged Management to give their utmost best to support him, and pledged the Board’s commitment to providing the right governance environment for the team to succeed. 

In his opening remarks, Dr Okoye Boye thanked God and President Akufo-Addo for the opportunity to lead the NHIA and contribute to its positive growth.  

He disclosed his desire to make a positive impact within the next two years and galvanised the support of Management to work together to achieve this goal.

He preached fairness to all and open-mindedness and is an accessible leader with a strong passion for succeeding in the new role. 

The Chief Executive outlined a few of his aspirations which are to make the NHIA the most visible and reliable public organisation with the most vibrant Staff and promised to evaluate the current structure of the Authority to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) more efficient. 

The CEO emphasised the need to build an organisation that will leverage the synergies and coordination of all Directorates and discouraged staff from working in silos.

He reiterated the importance of stakeholder management and pledged to have a very cordial and deep relationship with all stakeholders of the Authority.  

Dr Okoe Boye intends to have a legacy that will make it easier for those after him to succeed and solicited unity from all to make the Scheme more efficient and sustainable. 

Dr Bernard Okoye succeeded Dr Lydia Dsane-Selby, who announced her retirement from active service last week after serving the NHIA for 15 years of her working career, with the last three years as the Chief Executive.  

This is in reaction to an article published in the Herald newspaper, Friday 29th April 2022.

The article titled: “Okoe-Boye, Toilet And Celebration Of Mediocrity” sought to condemn the former Ledzokuku Member of Parliament for commissioning a 20-seater toilet facility at Lekma.

Okoe Boye in a tweet said: “This morning, I had the privilege of commissioning a 20- seater toilet located behind the Lekma Hospital. I financed the project with my MP’s share of the Common Fund. What drives me remains the mission to make the world a better place”.

However, Abdul Razak Bawa, the author of the article wasn’t enthused with the commissioning; asking Okoe Boye not to be “desperate”.

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“I had huge respect for Okoe Boye, but to think that he can also stoop so low to play to the gallery, baffles me. Okoe Boye’s continues embarrassment of the good people Ledzokuku, is akin to the proverbial macabre dance of the absurd, Kings dancing naked in the arena in the self-delusion that they are entertaining the audience. It is nauseating. It makes one puke. It makes one sick. It annoys. It irritates. But it must be tolerated. And it is even necessary.

“Toilet is not a luxury, but a necessity; every household should have a decent toilet, only if laws are allowed to work in this country. The reality is that Okoe Boye is a very damaged and unsellable ware, yet he wants to stage a comeback. His modus operandi is not tidy and certainly not appealing” portions of the article read.

Speaking to this on Peace FM, Okoe Boye said “if you have not queued at a public toilet before when someone commissions one, you will describe it as mediocrity. The first time I used a flush toilet was at Legon Presec; this world…”

Listening to the wording of the article read by the host of the show, Kwami Sefa Kayi, he joked: “you would have helped the nation if you had formed a civil society with your big grammar…if you take this big grammar to places where people have queued to go to nature’s call, you will see what they will do to you.”

A Former Board Chairman of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has revealed that he was sued for instituting reforms at the Hospital.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye stated that this happened after an audit was conducted and the outcome resulted in the Board having to effect some changes in the leadership of various departments.

“The Board did an audit of the leadership when we realised that there were some gaps. People were holding positions that they had no capacity to hold and if the leader has not got the capacity, there’s little he can do. So we had to sign them off [and] within a spate of a month, about 80 percent of leadership changed and it changed through due process,” he said.

Dr Okoe-Boye was appointed Board Chair of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in 2018 by President Nana Akufo-Addo. During his tenure, he instituted various reforms which he has detailed in his new book, titled ‘The Mother in the Monster.’

After reading Professor Frimpong Boateng’s book about the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital ‘Taming the Monster,’ in which he spelt out the challenges of the hospital, Dr Okoe-Boye said he was inspired to institute reforms “and the vision was to make it a safe place for all patients.”

But this, according to the Medical Doctor, did not come without a fight as some of the Directors who were affected by the house cleaning exercise were not pleased. One filed a case against him at an Accra High Court.

“So there’s this perception that directorship is a lifetime career, which should not be so. Directorship is a privileged position that you occupy. You must have some profession already and then you are appointed as a director with a term and if the term expires you can get a renewal.

“But there was this director who said ‘why do you want me to go? I’m supposed to be here till I’m 60 years. So he sued me in court.”

The former Member of Parliament for the Ledzokuku Constituency was delighted to note that he won the legal tussle.

“By the grace of God we won the case and that opened the door for the reforms,” he revealed.

Among the reforms he highlighted was a change in the succession structure of the Hospital which he said had been a challenge for so many years.

“Until I got to Korle-Bu, most of the heads of departments were being appointed by the University of Ghana and people were asking how that was possible.

“For many years, the appointment letters were emanating from the Vice Chancellor’s office with little or no input from the Board and the CEO. But when I came, we did an audit and I realised that Section 41 of the Act that established Korle-Bu, states that the Board of the Hospital in consultation with the Medical School shall appoint all heads of unit.”

However, this was not the case, “I’m happy to say we engaged all units and we actually put in place a structure to take care of succession and I’m happy to say that for the first time in over 50 years, Letters of Appointment of Heads of Departments that were appointed were signed for the first time, by the Board Chairman,” he noted.

Former Member of Parliament (MP)for Ledzokuku constituency, Bernard Okoe-Boye, is urging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to seek legal redress over the brouhaha over who is Majority in Parliament.

He is convinced a ruling by the Supreme Court will prevent a recurrence of the chaos that characterised the election of Speaker of Parliament on January 7, 2021.

The leadership of both NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have not reached a consensus on who will sit on the left and right of the Speaker.

This confusion, Mr Okoe-Boye, on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, said can only be settled at the Supreme Court.

He said given the current numbers in Parliament where the NDC and the NPP Caucuses both have 137 seats, it will be difficult for them to accept to sit at the left.

“There is no way under the sun the NDC will accept that they are the Minority but the only place I see where they will listen to reason is the Supreme Court,” the former MP stated.

Mr Okoe-Boye conceded that, though some of the NDC MPs don’t support the decision; they have been whipped in line by their political party.

“I’m convinced the NDC will not stop at anything that will frustrate government,” he added.

The Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku constituency, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, has explained the motive for his viral photo taken in front of a lotto kiosk.

According to him, he decided to interact with the ‘lotto doctor’ during his route community engagements in the area.

He was trolled on social media when the photo of him went viral. Some critics said he was staking lotto; while others suggested he was just interacting with his constituents.

Reacting to this, the Ledzokuku MP disclosed that, his party boys around him took the picture and he posted it on his Facebook wall.

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“I posed infront of the kiosk and my boys took the photo. I posted on my Facebook page but people decided to do mischief with it,” he bemoaned.

Dr Okoe-Boye, who is also Deputy Minister of Health, said he interacts with everyone in his constituency including fetish priests.

“Once you are a leader, you relate with everybody. When you see me with a fetish priest, it doesn’t mean I have stopped being a Christian,” he said.

Play attached audio for more:

The Member of Parliament for the Ledzokuku constituency said he has only one Facebook page, with the user name, Dr Okoe Boye.

Some of the fake accounts have Hon Bernard Okoe Boye and Hon Okoe Boye as the usernames.

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He noted these accounts should be ignored and reported.

Read his post below:

First Deputy Speaker Joe Osei Owusu earlier Friday submitted to the house a report of the Appointment Committee of Parliament requesting his approval, which the plenary approved.

Members of parliament on both the majority and minority sides backed the approval.

“He is going to the Health Ministry at a defining moment in history…The entire nation is looking forward to the young doctor helping the nation find a solution…We can only wish Dr Oko-Boye well,” MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said as he contributed to discussions on the floor ahead of approval.

“There is an impression that Dr Okoe-Boye is a Covid-19 Minister…it is not so. He is being nominated as a Deputy Health Minister and we shouldn’t be fixated with the whole issue of Covid-19…I want that impression corrected,” MP for Abuakwa South Samuel Atta Akyea told the House.

“I have no doubt that he will serve in that position very well,” the Minister for Works and Housing added.

The 38-year-old medical professional was nominated as Deputy Minister earlier this month by President Akufo-Addo.

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The president requested that parliament expedites his approval so he can support government’s efforts to deal with the coronavirus situation.

The Appointment Committee vetted him on Wednesday, after which parliament was recalled from suspension to approve his nomination.

Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Ocquaye congratulated Dr Okoe-Boye after the House approved his appointment. 

His comment comes after the party’s maiden meeting after the 2016 general elections was rocked by violence over the weekend.

Some aggrieved party members had accused him of plotting to impose a candidate on them as MCE.

The NPP members said to be supporters of the constituency’s Youth Organizer, Dennis Tetteh who is also vying for the MCE position besieged the venue of the meeting and heckled the MP.

Supporters of Dr. Okoe Boye according to reports stormed the venue and fired gunshot to disperse the crowd.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday, Dr. Okoe Boye expressed disappointment about the development.

He was convinced the party members who opposed his candidature are behind the disturbances to create an impression that there is disunity in the NPP.

The Ledzokuku MP indicated that, though he is trained medical doctor capable of curing all diseases, he cannot cure the “hatred and bitterness” in some NPP members in the constituency.

“The extent of bitterness is too much but I have managed to ignore them so want to provoke me” he bemoaned.

This notwithstanding, Dr. Okoe Boye said he will strive for unity to ensure government’s aspirations for the constituency is realized.