Fake doctor jailed

Thursday, Julu 30, 2009 (Page 31)

THE Accra Circuit Court yesterday sentenced a fake medical doctor to 10 months imprisonment.
Joseph Kenny Agodoa was also ordered to pay GH¢2,400 fine after he was convicted on three counts of obtaining registration by false representation contrary to Section 35 of the Medical and Dental Decree NRCD 91 of 1972, possessing of forged documents and deceit of public officer.
The court, presided over by Mrs Elizabeth Ankomah, also ordered that the name of Agodoa should be expunged from the records of the Medical and Dental Council.
The Council had registered Agodoa as practitioner number 4023 after Agodoa had presented a medical certificate purported to have been issued by the University of Nigeria in 1998.
However, after three months of being posted to the Ho Government Hospital, he exhibited serious deficiency in the medical field and for that matter he was eventually barred from practising.
That notwithstanding, Agodoa deserted his duty post, went into hiding and began private practice.
The facts of the case were that, Agodoa went to the Dental and Medical Council and presented the certificate as a trained medical officer after which he was registered.
He was later posted to the Ho Government Hospital and attached to the Surgical Unit of the hospital.
After three months, he was found to lack knowledge and clinical skills and was, therefore, attached to the Ghana Medical Council School for six months orientation.
Three months into the orientation, the Council realised that Agodoa was deficient in all areas and it was recommended that he be withdrawn while his background was investigated.
The matter got to the attention of the Ministry of Health (MOH) which ordered that Agodoa went back to Ho and be re-assigned to non-medical duties while he undergoes investigation.
The convict, however, refused to report at his duty post and that resulted in the withholding of his registration.
Agodoa managed to go into private practice but the public and other practitioners who were not satisfied with his conduct reported him to the Dental and Medical Council.
Verification carried out by the Medical and Dental Council from the College of Medicine of the University of Nigeria revealed that Agodoa had not had any training from that school as he had earlier claimed.
The Council then referred the matter to the Police for investigation and subsequent prosecution of the convict.