Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former minister of the environment, has described how former Speaker of Parliament Doe Adjaho and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman Asiedu Nketia saved his life.
During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, he reportedly testified before a Parliamentary Audit Committee at that time.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng recalled being hauled before the committee for engaging in sole sourcing and circumventing certain procurement procedures.
In an interview with Accra-based TV3, the renowned surgeon and chief of the Cardiothoracic unit explained that his actions were prompted by the need to take desperate measures.
"I was frantic. I did this because I needed to save Korle-Bu, which required me to testify before the parliamentary audit committee.
"The two individuals who rescued me at that meeting were General Mosquito and Doe Adjaho. The members stated that I had completed the non-process. However, they questioned what he had done wrong and argued that while the process may not be ideal, he had saved the country a substantial amount of money, so he should be released.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng disclosed at a press conference in August 2007 that he was able to halt questionable procurements and fraudulent contracts that were costing the country billions of cedis.
Before he took over, the hospital was paying 18 billion for sutures, but he was able to procure the same quantity from India for 450 million, saving the hospital and the country over 17 billion.
The former CEO stated that the hospital previously paid 2.4 billion annually for CSSD cassettes, but he was able to acquire them for much less, and the hospital utilized them for three years.
According to the heart physician, the hospital was able to generate sufficient funds under his administration to construct a new administration building at a cost of 8.6 billion.