A former Health Minister in the Jerry Rawlings regime, Samuel Nuamah Donkor has, in a eulogy, described the late Jacob Plange-Rhule as a hero.

Mr. Donkor said the late professor was “so helpful” to him “during his tenure as Health Minister; describing the period as stormy.

He said the late Plange-Rhule, together with the Ghana Medical Association, assisted him to develop the Additional Duty Hours (ADH) Policy for Doctors and other Health Professionals which was fully endorsed by President J.J Rawlings.

“That Policy brought great relief to our hardworking Doctors. Indeed Dr Plange-Rhule, Dr Oheneba Danso (then GMA Secretary) and Prof Akosa became my very good friends,” he said.

The renowned Physician and Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons died at the University of Ghana Medical Centre on Friday morning where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Read Donkor’s full eulogy below

Oh my God!

Prof Plange-Rhule, may His gentle soul RIP. He and some GMA members recommended Dr Nsiah Asare to me in 1998, when I was looking for a replacement for Old Prof Asafu Agyei as the CEO of KATH (Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital) way back in 1998.

I had to transfer Dr Nsiah Asare immediately from Tamale Hospital to KATH as the new CEO. He and the GMA team were so helpful to me in those stormy period of 1998 during my tenure as the Minister of Health.

In fact they assisted me in the development of the Additional Duty Hours (ADH) Policy for Doctors and other Health Professionals which was fully endorsed by HE President JJ Rawlings. 

That Policy brought great relief to our hardworking Doctors. Indeed Dr Plange-Rhule, Dr Oheneba Danso (then GMA Secretary) and Prof Akosa became my very good friends. I am forever grateful to these gallant Men and also to the GMA President at the time, Dr Kwakye Marfo. A great Hero has fallen on the battlefield but we shall continue to fight on until we emerge as victors in this war.