Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has suspended its Ashanti Regional Director, Alex Opoku Mensah for verbally abusing a nurse at the Manhyia Government Hospital.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, it said the suspension is with immediate effect. 

It added that the decision has been communicated to the embattled director.

“The management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has suspended the Ashanti Regional Director, Mr Alex Opoku Mensah with immediate effect. 

“The announcement of the suspension was made yesterday at an emergency meeting the management of the Scheme had with Mr Alex Opoku Mensah,” excerpts of the release stated. 

This action according to the statement, is to allow for further investigations into his conduct. 

“The decision is to allow for further investigation into the alleged verbal assault on a nurse on duty at the Manyhia Government Hospital,” the statement added. 

Alex Opoku-Mensah is said to have verbally abused a nurse at the Manhyia Hospital for the manner in which the healthcare provider spoke with his daughter who is also a doctor at the facility. 

The nurse had called the house officer to suggest a change in prescription because what the latter prescribed was unavailable at the pharmacy.

According to the Medical Superintendent, Dr Hussein, the house officer is said to have taken offence at how the nurse spoke with her, and thus protested.

Dr Hussein said the house officer happened to have been in the company of her father when she spoke with the nurse on phone. As such, Mr Opoku-Mensah was infuriated by the turn of events and followed his daughter to the hospital.

In an audio recording that has gone viral, Mr Opoku-Mensah said, “you are very frustrated…Who born dog?…you envy her, and you don’t respect. Are you a doctor? Who are you? Are you mad? Is the hospital yours? Stupid idiot.. that your useless nursing that you do, useless woman… Do you know who I am? I am the Regional Director of the National Service Scheme. Some of you are under me.”