Story by : Ishmael Barfi
The Medical and Dental Council has arrested two men involved in illegal practices in Adentan, suburb in Accra and Swedru, also suburb in the Central respectively.
The two men where arrested during an operation by the Council at Adentan in Accra and Swedru in the Central region.
The two Bright Afful, and Samuel Owusu were arrested for performing illegal abortion and defrauding foreign- trained doctors.
Addressing the press on Monday, 24th January, 2022 at the Council Secretariat in Accra, the Acting Registrar of the Council, Dr. Divine N. Banyubala explained that, in the case of Bright Afful,the Council received several allegations of how he and other individuals go round collections monies from foreign- trained doctor, and giving them the assurance of helping them, the foreign- trained doctors Pre-registration Assessment Examination.
“These fraudsters claim to have links with some top officials at the Council on whose behalf they called for the monies so that, they can secure the questions for them before they sit for the Pre-registration Assessment Examination”, he noted.
Revealing how Bright Afful, the key person behind these dealings, Dr. Banyubala indicated that, Bright Afful was also involved in organizing medical outreaches and screening programme at various rural communities.
According to the Council, information given indicates that, he sometimes goes to outreaches and screening with these foreign- trained doctors , hence participate in these exercises.
“Our preliminary investigations showed that, some of the places they visited included villages around Cape Coast, Akwatia, as well as Agona Swedru.”, the Registrar said.
This suspect is alleged of charging his victims from GH1,000.00 to GH20,000 and these monies are paid either wholly or in installments over a period and interestingly, the Council’s investigator was charged Gh10,000 by the suspect (Bright Afful) to assist him to change his results.
“With assistance from the Agona Swedru Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service, the suspect Bright Afful was arrested on 24 the December, 2021 and put before the Cape Coast Circuit Court for trial”, Dr. Divine N. Banyubala added.
With regards to Samuel Owusu, who was arrested at Adentan New site in Accra,the Council Registrar explained that, the Council received information of him practicing medicine illegally and as well as performing abortions for his client(s).
Investigations showed that, Samuel Owusu was operating from a pharmacy located at his residence and charges GH500.00 per client before terminating pregnancy.
Touching on the Certificate been used by the suspect, Samuel Owusu, Dr. Banyubala indicated that, the certificate was not from an authorized place.
Therefore “the pharmacy has since been closed down in the interest of public health, safety and wellbeing.
Adding that, the suspect was arraigned before the Adentan Circuit Court on December 32, 2021 and remanded into Police custody to reappear on the 4th of January, 2022.
“On this date, the accused was granted bail in the sum of Sixty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH60,000) with three sureties, one to be justified and to report himself to the Police every Tuesday until the final determination of the case”, he said.
Dr. Divine N. Banyubala therefore pleaded with the general public to be vigilant and report any scrupulous activities to the Council.
And also urged foreign-trained doctors to go to the appropriate quarters, hence the Medical and Dental Council for any assistance or information to avoid being dumped by imposters in the industry.
“The Council is doing it’s best to sanitize the sector as well as enhance it’s services”, he added.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
