The Ghana Health (GHS) has begun investigations into the circumstances under which some staff of the Service reportedly stole and sold some Covid-19 vaccines from its stores.
According to the Service, the appropriate sanctions will be applied if anybody is found culpable.
Three staff of the Service who worked in various hospitals in the Greater Accra Region are in police grips for stealing and selling Covid- 19 vaccines to the public.
They are: Stephen Dzisenu, 37, Disease Control Officer of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital; Cosmos Allotey, 42, an Occupational Health and Safety Officer and Joseph Knight Gaisie, a Project Assistant and a former Laboratory Technician at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
Stephen is said to have stolen 36 vials of COVIDSHIELD and Lord Pabitey, a Disease Control Officer of the La Bawalashie Polyclinic, now at large, also allegedly stole 26 vials of COVIDSHIELD.
Cosmos is also said to have received the stolen COVIDSHIELD from one Pabitey and Dzisenu while Joseph is also being held for abetment of crime.
Allotey allegedly administered the vaccines at a cost of GH¢200. per jab.
The three – Stephen, Cosmos and Allotey – have since been remanded into custody by an Accra Circuit Court to reappear on April 1.
But the Service in a statement issued and signed in Accra by its Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye stated that the “Service condemns such alleged criminal act in no uncertain terms and that an administrative inquiry is being instituted“.
It said the Service commits to cooperate with the Security agencies to unravel the circumstances leading to this illicit act.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye reiterated that all Covid-19 Vaccines are free of charge and as such, all citizens should be vigilant and report anyone who comes to them with a proposal to sell Covid-19 Vaccines.
“The Service once again assures the general public, that together with all stakeholders, we shall ensure that all persons eligible for the vaccine get it free of charge” the GHS Director-General noted.
Allotey was arrested when he was invited to Labone in Accra to inject the complainant at a fee of GH₵ 200.
According to the Police when Allotey was searched, eight COVIDSHIELD vials, eight used COVIDSHIELD, 173 pieces of 0.5 ml unused injection syringes and cotton were found on him.The prosecution said during interrogation, Allotey mentioned Dzisenu and Pabitey as his source.He said Allotey led the National Security operatives to arrest Dzisenu and Gaisie.
The prosecution said Allotey, in his investigative caution statement, admitted buying 36 of the vials of government procured COVIDSHIELD vaccine at the cost of GH₵ 18,000.00.According to him, Allotey further said that he sold 20 of the vials of COVIDSHIELD at a cost of GH¢16,000.00 and later returned 15 vials to Dzisenu.
The prosecution said Allotey said he also bought 26 vials of the COVIDSHIELD from Pabitey at the cost of GH₵4,800.00.
The police said Dzisenu in his caution statement, mentioned Gaisie as the one who aided and facilitated the sale of the stolen COVIDSHIELD vaccines to Allotey.
The Prosecution said efforts were underway to arrest Pabitey and the others.
Source: mypublisher24.com
