The Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) says it is outraged at the decision of an Accra Circuit Court to bond Michael Quansah, the 28-year-old man who held himself out as a medical doctor and defrauded people, to be of good behaviour for one year or in default six months in prison. Quansah, a second time offender, alleged to have performed illegal abortions for many women, was bonded last Thursday by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Ms Audrey Kocuvie-Tay. However, the Registrar of the GMDC, Dr. Eli Atikpui, said Quansah posed great danger to the public due to his nefarious activities, and the council expected a stiff sentence for him, particularly for being a second time offender. "This is a man who could do great harm to the public and is someone who has been arrested before for the same offence. When such things occur they make a mockery of our efforts to protect the public," he said. "What happened in court last Thursday does not motivate us to carry out the second part of our mandate, which is protecting the public from the activities of fraudsters and charlatans who use the name of the profession to commit crime," he added. Section 48 (1) of the reviewed Medical and Dental Decree of 1972 states that: "A person commits an offence if he wilfully and falsely takes or uses any name, title, addition or description evidently implying a qualification to practise medicine or dentistry or, without being registered under this decree, practises or professes to practise or publishes his name as practising medicine or dentistry, or receives any payment for practising medicine or dentistry." Section 48 (2) states that: "The name, title, addition or description referred to in subsection (1) shall for the purposes of this section include physician, doctor of medicine, licentiate in medicine and surgery, bachelor of medicine, surgeon, general practitioner or apothecary, dentist, dental surgeon and dental practitioner and any other name, title, addition or description evidently implying that the person taking or using such a name, title, addition or description is registered under this decree or that he is recognised by law as a physician surgeon or a medical or dental practitioner. " Section 48(3) maintains that: "Every person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding GH¢ 1,000 or to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and to an additional fine of GH¢20 for every day the offence is committed." Dr Atikpui said lawyers for the GMDC would hold discussions with officials of the council on steps to take to pursue the issue further. “In spite of this unfortunate setback, we will take steps to protect the public interest and safeguard them from the activities of miscreants," he added. Quansah was arrested last Monday when he went to the Dansoman branch of ECOBANK to transact business. His arrest was as a result of numerous complaints received by the GMDC about his fraudulent activities. He admitted being a fake doctor during his arrest. Quansah was also said to have travelled to Italy last year to address conferences on the topic: "Advancement of Medicine in Ghana in the 21st Century". During a search on him after his arrest, 11 different complimentary cards with the logo of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital were found on him. A fake University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) (ID) card was also found on him. When he appeared before court on Thursday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of "false assumption of professional title" and "possession of false document". Source: Daily Graphic