The Ministry of Health has indicated it will direct the management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to return the nine vehicles it claims to have purchased for the hospital without the approval of the Health Minister.
The ministry said the hospital's authorities failed to go through approved procedures to acquire the vehicles.
The Senior Staff Association of the hospital has petitioned President John Mahama to investigate the alleged mismanagement of hospital funds by the board and management of the hospital and the spending of GhȻ1 million on luxury vehicles.
The board Chairman, Mr Edward Annan, on Wednesday denied the allegations and explained that "the board took a decision to give directors and deputy directors cars. Before this decision was taken, the previous board had given directors cars, the institution paying 60 per cent of them and the individuals paying 40 per cent of that".
But the Public Relations Officer of the Health Ministry, Tony Goodman has told Accra based radio station, Citi FM that the hospital management had been given a two-week ultimatum to respond to the petition.
Mr. Goodman clarified that the sector Minister was not aware of Korle Bu's purchase of the nine vehicles.
According to him, the hospital management "went through the process but they shortchanged some of the processes. It did not go to the sector Minister to get the formal approval..."
If the procedure had been followed to the latter, the sector Minister, Mr. Goodman said would have had to send the documents to the Finance Minister for approval because, "it is government money".
He said the government had and is still making a lot of investments in the hospital therefore; it is heartbreaking to note that the hospital's internally generated funds (IGF) were allegedly being mismanaged.
"If the IGF is used without the knowledge of government, then we think we are not being fair to government"
Meanwhile, the Police have released the president of the Korle Bu Senior Staff Association, Charles Offei-Palm after being invited Thursday.
The association, led by Mr. Offei- Palm, has accused the board and management of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital for mismanaging IGF including buying luxurious vehicles.
The association has therefore petitioned the President over the matter.
The Board chairman of the hospital, Mr Edward Annan, has denied the accusation leveled against the board and management but he also alleged that they have been receiving death threats by some unknown persons regarding the issue at hand.
