President Nana Akufo-Addo has extended the contract of the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare by another year.
A letter sighted by Citi News and signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo says the President was acting on a letter sent to his office by the Ghana Health Service Council.
Per the Public Service Act, any public official who turns 60 years and due for retirement can have his or her stay extended by five years.
The President who also congratulated Dr. Nsiah Asare in the letter asked the Director of the Ghana Health Service to within 14 days indicate his acceptance or otherwise of the extension of service.
“With reference to a letter dated 6th May, 2019, from the Ghana Health Service Council on the subject matter above, I am pleased to inform you that the President has granted you a one-year extension of service as Director-General of the Ghana Health Service effective 23rd May 2019 to 22nd May 2020.”
“I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your extension of service. Kindly indicate your acceptance or otherwise of this extension of service within 14 days of receipt of this letter. Please accept the President’s best wishes.” The letter read.
‘I have tried to put systems in place’ – Dr. Nsiah Asare
Speaking in an Interview on Citi TV‘s news analysis program, the Point of View, Dr. Nsiah Asare disclosed that when his tenure as the GHS boss comes to an end, he wants to be best remembered for putting systems in place to ensure an efficient health system in the country.
He also added that he also wants to be remembered for his advocacy work in introducing the drone technology for the delivery of essential medical supplies to remote areas of the country.
“What I think I have done, for the past two and half years, since I have come, I have tried to put systems in place, because health service systems is the most important. In health, it doesn’t matter if you put in millions of dollars and you don’t have systems in place it will fail. That is what we have done, that is what we are doing, I want to complete as quickly as possible, to make sure the CHPS system is working very well, the sub districts are working very well.
“In addition, introducing technology for efficient health services, is one thing, I am very proud of, the drone system, and I am sure people will remember me for it, when they realise that the drones are saving lives and saving money for the Ghana Government.”