Dr. Hadi Mohammed
A prominent neurosurgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Hadi Mohammed, has cast significant doubt on the consistency and necessity of the medical reports circulating regarding former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment at the Mayo Clinic.
Speaking on JoyNews Newsfile on Saturday, June 7, Dr. Mohammed highlighted a critical lack of reconciliation between different medical communications, which raises questions about the justification for Mr Ofori-Atta’s extended absence from Ghana.
Mr Ofori-Atta’s continued stay outside Ghana has resulted in him being declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and subsequent placement on INTERPOL’s Red Notice over allegations of using public office for private gains while serving as minister under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government.
Dr. Mohammed specifically pointed to discrepancies in two purported medical letters related to Mr Ofori-Atta’s condition.
“From what I’ve seen circulating on social media, it appears as at March… it was clear that he would be undergoing surgery,” he stated. However, he noted that a subsequent letter indicated Mr Ofori-Atta had to undergo an “MRI-guided biopsy”.
The neurosurgeon found it “very difficult to reconcile the two letters” and the implied chronology of events.
He clarified that biopsies, particularly for prostate cancer, are typically considered “minor surgery” or “day activities”.
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“Usually in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, it’s done on the ward, and the patient goes home the same day. Some even do it in the clinics, you know,” Dr. Mohammed explained. This contrasts sharply with the notion of a major, prolonged surgical procedure implied by the earlier communication.
“The two letters are really difficult to reconcile in terms of the chronology of activities that they had scheduled for him [Mr Ofori-Atta],” Dr. Mohammed reiterated, further questioning why an advanced centre like the Mayo Clinic would delay a crucial tissue biopsy if initial PSA levels were high, given the need to quickly ascertain tumour aggressiveness.
Challenging the perception that Mr Ofori-Atta’s treatment at a prestigious foreign institution like the Mayo Clinic implies a medical situation beyond Ghana’s capacity, Dr. Mohammed delivered a robust defence of local medical expertise.
“Ghana is one of the most advanced in terms of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment in the sub-region,” he asserted.
He revealed that Ghanaian urologists have successfully treated “high-level government officials in the sub-region across many West African countries and in-country as well, including members of the previous government and members of this government.”
Dr. Mohammed, who has had the opportunity to treat some of these officials for related conditions, dismissed the notion of superior care abroad for prostate cancer.
“I’ve actually looked at what Mayo does, and I don’t think that there’s anything special that they would do for a prostate cancer patient that does not really exist in Ghana or change the prognosis of the patients.”
The neurosurgeon underscored that specialised oncology units capable of administering advanced treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy exist in Ghana.
The former Finance Minister’s prolonged stay abroad has been a subject of public scrutiny, particularly in the context of the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s recent re-issuance of a Red Notice for him.
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