A committee has been set up to investigate allegations of extortion leveled against the St. Joseph Hospital in Koforidua which is accused of taking money unlawfully from patients.

The committee which was set up in collaboration with the Health Ministry will find out how the patients, who were supposed to have had free knee and hip surgery in April, were charged some Ȼ6,000 each.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, Executive Director, Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), which oversees the operations of the St Joseph Hospital, Mr. Peter Yeboah said the incident will be investigated.

He said the Association whose member institutions have been involved in such charities across the country is mortified by the development and will ensure that perpetrators are brought to book if indeed the story is true.

“We have in collaboration with the ministry of Health just established an investigation committee to investigate the matter fully.

“The matter came to us through the media and we are as much concerned as all Ghanaians because it goes to the core of our values a Christian health institution that is supposed to fulfill our mission of Christ-like health service provision,” he said

The St. Joseph Hospital has been in the news this week for allegedly extorting money from some 50 patients who were to benefit from a free knee and hip surgery by Operation Walk Syracuse, a US team of medical doctors who were in the country upon request by Vitamilk's Child Malnutrition Foundation.

Weeks before the medical team arrived in Ghana, management of the hospital told patients to make Ȼ6,000 ready before the surgery.

Some did, others paid part and promised to pay the remaining before they were discharged, but those who couldn’t afford the amount blew the cover of the hospital.

The Executive Director of CHAG said the committee will begin its mandate with immediate effect and will take into consideration the investigative piece by the B&FT reporter and a rejoinder issued by the hospital following the publication of the news.

“We are hoping that the investigative committee will validate these findings or establish the veracity of these claims and then subject it to our standards whether it fell within the standard operating procedures that we have,” he reiterated.

He said the necessary recommendations and possible sanctions from the committee will be applied if the allegations are proven to be true.

He stressed that CHAG is still committed as a fraternity to providing quality health care to all Ghanaians irrespective of the circumstances and as a pro-poor organization, “we would always ensure that those who are neglected and marginalized in all circumstances will be attended to”, he added.

Related: Extortion at St Joseph Hospital embarrassed us greatly - Charity

He called on the public to support the independent committee to go into the allegations as published in the media.

“They have two weeks to come out with the facts. We will never shield anybody; we will ensure that the truth is established consistent with our principles of consistency and accountability.

“This committee will fulfill its mandate and all questions and comments will be addressed by this committee,” he stressed.