A coordinated campaign to discredit and remove Rev. Dr. Ralph Armah, the Medical Director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), has been uncovered, following his aggressive push to expose and dismantle entrenched corruption within the facility.

Appointed in April 2024, Dr. Armah has since come under intense pressure and attacks from a group of individuals, both within and outside the hospital, believed to be orchestrating a smear campaign to force him out of office.

Sources within the Ministry of Health confirm that the backlash stems from Dr. Armah’s uncompromising reforms aimed at enforcing accountability, financial discipline, and ending extortion of patients.

“They’re trying to get him out because he’s disrupting their corrupt practices,” a senior ministry official stated.

Under Dr. Armah’s leadership, key interventions include halting the redirection of patients to a private pharmacy charging exorbitant fees—reportedly up to $7,000—and enforcing the use of hospital-prescribed medications.

He also clamped down on staff misconduct, revised hospital transport policy, suspended questionable allowances, and instituted stringent financial controls that have significantly improved the hospital’s fiscal health.

Concerns have also been raised over the use of private pharmacy prescription pads for Ridge Hospital patients—an issue insiders say Dr. Armah is actively investigating.

An internal report reviewed by this outlet outlines several irregularities, including revenue losses from waived surgical fees, unpaid hospital bills despite implant payments, unauthorized procurement of implants, and mismatches between private pharmacy prescriptions and actual receipts.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is reportedly probing some of these practices, with multiple individuals under investigation.

Claims linking Dr. Armah to a controversial contract with Safe Africa Security Services Ltd. have also been debunked, as he was not in office at the time the contract was signed.

Despite the smear campaign, Dr. Armah’s reforms have led to a remarkable financial turnaround at Ridge Hospital.

From a net current asset deficit of over GHS 16 million in April 2024, the hospital recorded a positive net current asset of GHS 992,051.32 by December 31, 2024.

Description April 10, 2024 December 31, 2024 Cash (614,432.34) 4,868,775.56 Inventory 5,695,413.78 8,015,700.11 Receivables 14,971,375.12 16,165,359.59 Liabilities 36,171,803.09 28,057,783.94 Net Current Asset (16,119,446.53) 992,051.32

The hospital also achieved an operational surplus of GHS 6 million by the end of 2024.

Quarterly Revenue Growth

Quarter Revenue (GHS) Q1 21,044,779.45 Q2 21,618,634.36 Q3 22,329,024.72 Q4 23,302,437.98

Cost-Saving and Staff-Oriented Measures

Among Dr. Armah’s major cost-cutting and welfare initiatives:

Salary Adjustment for Non-Mechanized Staff: In June 2024, long-neglected staff received long-overdue salary increases to cushion them against the high cost of living and enhance morale.

Fuel & Vehicle Monitoring: A switch from coupons to electronic monitoring of fuel usage helped reduce misuse, with expenditures remaining stable despite rising national fuel prices.

Vehicle Maintenance: Scheduled movement, preventive maintenance, and regular assessments led to a sharp decline in repair costs, particularly in the latter half of the year.

Water Supply Reform: A new water system eliminated the need for costly external water tankers, cutting expenditures from over GHS 884,000 in Q1 to zero in Q4.

Staff Welfare Enhancement: Expenditures in this area increased significantly as the hospital provided health support and end-of-year appreciation packages to boost staff well-being and productivity.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Armah's leadership has ushered in a new era of transparency, accountability, and efficiency at Ridge Hospital. However, his bold reforms continue to threaten powerful interests invested in the status quo.