Police Hospital for Sale

Reliable information picked up from the corridors of the seat of government and the Ghana Police Headquarters indicates that there are some clandestine moves by some high ranking officers of the Police Command and government sell a parcel of land that has been released to the Police Hospital to a private investor. The information further revealed that the alleged release of a stretch of land lying between the State Insurance Company (SIC) and the Akwetey Company (SIC) and the Akwetey Company not far from the Danquah Circle in Accra by the ruling government has generated a heated debated between President Mills and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye. According to The New Crusading Guide source within the Castle and the Police Command, the land in question which was formally occupied by the Regional Forestry Department has been sold to a private investor (name withheld) with close links to the seat of government, preventing the Police Hospital Administration from occupying the building. A portion of the land belong to the Police Service has also been penciled to be released for the use of the Public Sector Reforms. This decision by the ruling government to sell the building to a private investor has made the IGP confused since all documentation on the building have been handed over to the Police hospital administration. Meanwhile, the Executive Summary Report of the President Commission into Ghana Police Service (Archer Commission 1997), indicates that �there is an urgent need for physical expansion of the hospital in Accra. Government should initiate action to relocate the Headquarters of the Forestry Department to make it possible for the expansion of the Police Hospital�. The Report continued that the Hospital Administration should be given financial autonomy in its day to day operations subject to general financial regulations. It further stated that �in view of the increased patronage of the Police Hospital, there should be a corresponding increase in the funding of its activities.� The government White Paper on the Commission�s Report, issued on 11th May, 1999 clearly contradicts the latest move by government as it states in part that. ��Government should initiate action as a matter of top priority, to relocate the Headquarters of the Forestry Department to make it possible for the expansion of the Police Hospital�. The IPG certainly not oblivious to the existence of such a document gave order for the hospital administration to renovate the building and move in as soon as possible for the hospital to acquire more equipment to improve its services. The building which is almost completed may be pulled down when the intention of government is carried through. There is the tendency for a clash in the coming days as the police prepare to protect their bonafide property. When The New Crusading Guide contacted the Police Hospital Administrator, DSP Bompeh on the issue, he submitted that they have not received any such order not to occupy the building, �so they are already preparing to move in next week to enable the smooth running of the hospital�. According to the report �the Commission had discussions with the Chief Conservator of Forests who in an answer to a question stated that his Department would be prepared to relocate its headquarters elsewhere provided a new one would be built�.