Nurses at the Wa Regional Hospital in the Upper West region have refused to accept the newly appointed medical superintendent of the facility.

The appointment of Dr Barnabas Gandao has been rocked with rejections and protests from nurses of the hospital who believe the new appointee does not deserve the post.

They embarked on a sit-down strike which was followed by a demonstration to register their displeasure. They demanded that Dr Chris Opoku Fofie, whom they believe has laboured enough in the region, be appointed instead.

Dr Gandao

Management of the facility, however, ignored their request and swore in Dr Gandao as head of the hospital last week.

Dr Gandao, following his appointment called for calm saying, “I don’t have enemies, only friends yet to be known.”

The nurses don’t seem moved by the message.

Together with some market women, they embarked on a demonstration Tuesday morning, insisting Dr Gandao is removed from office and Dr Fofie sworn in.

In an interview with Joy News' Upper West regional correspondent, Rafiq Salam, leader of the demonstrators said “we are demonstrating not because we don’t like the man, we do, but we want fairness.

“Dr Fofie has been in the region for quite a long time, about nine years, and we think that he also merits the position of medical director. All of a sudden they are imposing someone else we don’t know.

Even some physically challenged women joined in the demonstration

“So our protest is to inform the public and government that whoever has been appointed should give way for Dr Fofie,” he added.

The demonstrators went through some principal streets of Wa before presenting a petition to the Deputy Upper West regional Minister, Dr Mohammed Alfa.

The deputy minister pleaded with the group after accepting the petition to go back to work adding, “from here be the health workers that you are and return to your various posts offering essential services to society.”

Listen to audio