The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has indicated that its members will not stoop low to engage in an illegality such as selling babies.
According to the Association’s President, regardless of existing for the well being of health professionals, the welfare of the patients is their utmost priority.
President of the GMA, Dr. Frank Ankobea made this statement in reaction to news on the arrest of a baby selling syndicate involving two (2) doctors and four (4) nurses.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show aired on e.TV Ghana and Happy FM, Dr. Ankobea noted that if these health professionals have really engaged in the sale of babies, then, they have committed a crime and need to be punished.
“The GMA will not shield anyone who engages in such a scandolus thing. It is our duty to offer quality health service and we cannot refer to the sale of babies as offering quality health service. The court will deal with them if they are found guilty.
We are not happy at all with the situation. But so far as the case is in the court, they should deal with the situation to the very end. As an Association, we do not condone such actions and will not shield anyone who does such a thing”, he reiterated.
When asked by Samuel Eshun what measures the GMA has taken to deal with the situation, he shared,
“As an Association, we are very worried about the news today. It is an allegation and we are taking our time to investigate it. It has made us look bad, that is if it is true. Ghanaians respect doctors and hold us in high esteem but if we can stoop so low and do these things, then it is bad”.
The Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in a joint operation with the Medical and Dental Council(MDC) Ghana have arrested 8 health professionals over baby harvesting and trafficking in Accra.
The two organizations have been undertaking a joint investigation over a period of time following a tip-off from a taxi driver upon a conversation between two women who boarded his taxi.
The investigation was carried out into the illegal activities between the periods of June to November 2020 and two medical doctors, two social workers, four nurses, two mothers and one traditional birth attendant have so far been arrested and are on a bail pending further investigation.
By: Joel Sanco