The Board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has come under scrutiny over the decision to advertise the position of Deputy Director of Public Affairs while the incumbent remains in office.
The development has triggered concerns among some administrative staff, who believe the recruitment exercise could amount to an attempt to replace the current Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Kwame Frimpong, following his recent media engagement on the hospital’s temporary suspension of emergency services.
KATH has advertised the position on a four-year fixed-term contract, inviting qualified applicants to submit their applications by August 31, 2026.
The vacancy notice lists responsibilities including overseeing the day-to-day administration of the Public Affairs Unit, developing corporate public relations policies, managing media relations, coordinating communication strategies and supporting the hospital’s public image.
Although the notice does not state that the recruitment is intended to replace Mr Frimpong or that it is connected to his recent media appearance, some staff members have questioned why the position is being advertised while he remains at post.
The Deputy Director of Public Affairs recently granted an to the media announcement of a temporary suspension of emergency services because of inadequate space to accommodate patients on the instructions of the hospitals management.
The announcement generated widespread concern within the health sector and was followed by the suspension of KATH Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paa Kwasi Baidoo.
The development also contributed to industrial action by doctors and other health workers, disrupting healthcare delivery at the facility.
Sources within the hospital claim that the decision to advertise the Public Affairs position came after the interview and has consequently been interpreted by some staff as an attempt to remove Mr Frimpong from his current role.
According to the sources, Mr Frimpong has approximately three years and eight months before his retirement, raising further questions among staff about the rationale for opening the position to external applicants.
The sources argue that the circumstances surrounding the advertisement warrant clarification from the hospital’s Board, particularly because the incumbent has not publicly been informed that his position has become vacant.
Questions have also been raised about the consistency of the hospital’s approach to senior positions.
A source cited the case of the current Director of Pharmacy, claiming that although the official faced a similar situation in the past, his contract was renewed without the position being advertised.
The source also alleged that a comparable arrangement was made in the case of a former Director of Nursing Services.
Some staff members are therefore asking why a similar option could not have been considered for the Public Affairs position, particularly given that the incumbent remains in office.
However, there is currently no official statement from the KATH Board establishing that the advertisement is intended to remove or replace Mr Frimpong, nor does the vacancy notice cite his media interview as a reason for the recruitment exercise.
The hospital’s notice simply invites qualified candidates with the requisite professional and managerial experience to apply, stating that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.
The controversy therefore centres on the timing of the advertisement and the circumstances surrounding it, with some staff calling for greater transparency from the KATH Board over the rationale for opening the position while the current office holder remains at post.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
