Founder of the Korle Bu Cardiothoracic Centre, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng is advocating the establishment of an Economic Commission of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Transplant in Ghana. The facility, he explained, will see to the mediation and allocation of organ donation procedures in the sub-region. Prof Frimpong Boateng who was speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday, stated that Ghana already has a competitive advantage in the field of cardiothoracic surgery and must fully utilise that opportunity. The heart surgeon who is credited for establishing Ghana’s only heart centre added that it was time for the country to own a centre of excellence where more cardiac surgeons could be trained. He also wants more doctors to specialise and concentrate on various aspects of cardio surgery like treating heart problems in children, handling other organs in the chest as well as how to use various sophisticated tools. Prof Frimpong Boateng revealed he has a wealth of ideas and visions to tremendously transform the management of heart health in Ghana but regretted that those at the helm of affairs of the National Heart Centre do not share in them. While still at post, he recounted, nobody ever inquired about his difficulty in running the cardio centre or even what visions he had to improve operations at the facility. Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, sacked from his post as honorary director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre two years ago, could not hide his disappointment at the manner in which he was removed from office. Though he claims to have no difficulty coming to terms with what happened to him, Prof Boateng said he always pictured himself retiring honorably, sitting back and giving advice when necessary. Asked if he bore a grudge against anyone he perceived to have engineered his dismissal, the surgeon said: “…I am not bitter, I have forgiven them”. He believes he has no reason to demand an apology from government for the manner in which he was ‘mistreated and humiliated’ and insisted he cannot accept any offer from the president if he decides to reinstate him [Prof Boateng]. Politics and Public Service Prof Frimpong Boateng said he thought Ghana had matured in terms of politics and thus believed that it did not really matter where on the political divide one belonged, as far as the person conducted himself professionally. But he was wrong, he noted, and the manner in which he was axed from office attested to that fact. According to him, the decision by the Mills-led administration to axe sack him was purely hinged on politics. That not withstanding, he maintained that public servants must be ready to sacrifice for the sake of the country’s development just as he did; even though he believes Ghana is not worth dying for. “Let us work hard and make Ghana a better place”, the heart surgeon admonished. 2012 polls, NPP’s court petition Being a leading member of the opposition party New Patriotic Party (NPP) which is challenging the declaration of President John Mahama as winner of the 2012 polls, Prof Frimpong Boateng prayed his party succeeds at the Supreme Court. The court process, he asserted, is “a very good chance for the Judiciary to exert its authority and independence”. He believes if the case is handled properly and the court determines that the president did not win the elections after all, then that will be the end of election rigging in Ghana.