Extra vigilance needed in financial monitoring of Ghana Health Service – Director
Dr. Aaron Ofei, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Service, has expressed concern about weaknesses in the financial monitoring of the Service and called for extra vigilance.
This comes in the wake of the uncovering of financial malfeasance involving an accountant of the regional medical stores and some budget management centres.
Dr. Offei, who was speaking at the opening session of a two-day annual performance review meeting in Kumasi, would not mention the amount allegedly stolen except to say that the case was being pursued in court.
He said it should make all to sit up and stop corrupt practices.
“Accelerating performance to achieve 2015 MDGs targets” was the theme.
The Regional Director complained about mounting indebtedness to the Regional Medical Stores, which stood close to GH¢12,057,108.86, as of the end of last year.
Added to this was the non-release of the Millennium Accelerated Fund (MAF) to aid the implementation of MDG activities in the region.
There was also the challenge with transportation as just about 54 per cent of the 147 vehicles for the service in the region could be termed as road worthy.
These notwithstanding, they were able to bring down maternal deaths to about 22 percent, a reduction, he said, was modest.
This was achieved partly because of increased supervised deliveries from 45.9 per cent to 67 per cent.
Dr Offei used the occasion to appeal to the country’s development partners to extend direct financial support to deprived districts’ health facilities to enhance their operations.
He said Ejura, Sekyere Afram Plains, Sekyere Central, Amansie West, Amansie Central, Bosome Freho and Bosomtwe were areas where assistance was critically needed.
He said at the regional level, they were doing everything to give some push to facilities in these districts.
Dr. Gloria Quansah Asare, Director, Family Health Division of the GHS, said there was the need for team work and closer collaboration with the private sector. He said they should all cultivate good working attitude and commitment to duty.
Nana Boakye Yam II, Chief of Nkwantakese, said the prevention of maternal mortality must be the responsibility of all stakeholders.
Source: GNA