NSS Suspends Alex Opoku Mensah For Two Months Without Pay

The management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has suspended the Ashanti regional director, Alex Opoku-Mensah, for two months without pay over an altercation he had with a nurse at the Manhyia Government Hospital in late November 2022.

Opoku-Mensah, popularly called Omens, was recorded after he waded into a misunderstanding between a female nurse on duty and a doctor identified as his daughter.

He was subsequently suspended when the tape went viral to pave way for an internal investigation.

A letter dated 23 December 2022 and addressed to Opoku-Mensah said the committee of enquiry recommended for the two months suspension without pay.

“After the suspension, you are to report to the head office to work under supervision,” the executive director of the NSS Osei Assibey Antwi.

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“Within seven days upon receipt of this notice, you are also to issue an official apology to the National Service Scheme for bringing the name of the scheme into disrepute,” the letter added.

Over 360 nurses and midwives at Manhyia District Hospital went on strike on 2 December 2022 over the issue, to press for the dismissal of Opoku-Mensah, for allegedly abusing their colleague.

The strike was called off a few days later after government officials intervened.

Mr Opoku-Mensah is said to have verbally abused a nurse over the manner in which the healthcare provider spoke with his daughter who is also a doctor at the facility.

The nurse had called the house officer to amend a prescription because what the latter had prescribed was unavailable at the pharmacy.

According to the Medical Superintendent, Dr Hussein, the house officer is said to have taken offence at how the nurse spoke with her, and thus protested.
Dr Hussein said the house officer happened to have been in the company of her father when she spoke with the nurse on phone. As such, Mr Opoku-Mensah was infuriated by the turn of events and followed his daughter to the hospital.

Alex Opoku-Mensah has since apologised for his actions and said he is not known to be abusive or violent.

In an audio recording that has gone viral, Mr Opoku-Mensah said, “you are very frustrated…Who born dog?…you envy her, and you don’t respect. Are you a doctor? Who are you? Are you mad? Is the hospital yours? Stupid idiot.. that your useless nursing that you do, useless woman… Do you know who I am? I am the Regional Director of the National Service Scheme. Some of you are under me.”
But the headquarters of the scheme would have none of that as the situation triggered an uproar from some health associations.

The latest development also demands that the embattled Ashanti Regional boss apologises to the NSS for bringing its name into disrepute through his action