A number of patients at the Koforidua Regional Hospital, especially those who have just delivered are reported to be refusing to pay their bills because of a rumour that they could be granted amnesty as part of the country's 50th Independence Anniversary. As at Friday, there were 16 such mothers at the maternity ward owing the hospital about 20 million cedis while about eight patients who could not pay their bills had absconded from various wards of the hospital. Their escape has led the hospital’s management to tighten security in the wards. When the Ghana News Agency interacted with some of the mothers, they gave various reasons why they could not settle their bills. One claimed that the man who got her pregnant was a driver's mate who had not visited her since she was admitted at the hospital. Another claimed the husband was a driver in the Brong Ahafo Region and that a message had been sent to him for over a week but nothing had been heard from him. GNA