The Management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) says some occupants of its apartments are owing accommodation arrears for more than five years.

As a result, it has taken steps to ensure that all tenants pay their rent as expected of them.

Although some staff found this development as offensive, the Hospital admonished them against such position, since it is a long-standing government policy that any worker who lives in any of the apartments to pay 10% of their salary as rent.

It said the policy has always been maintained and implemented by the Hospital, but staff movement and transfers, created lapses in the system that enabled some staff to escape the payment of rent as required by law.

 In a statement issued by the Hospital says “This non-payment of rent became a subject of audit query, which compelled Management to conduct an inventory into its estate resources. Through this exercise, it became palpably clear that many of these accommodation units had fallen into the state of disrepair and required urgent renovation and maintenance.”

Yet, it has come to the attention of the Hospital Administration that a section of the staff, are calling  for rent being deducted for residing in hospital residential accommodation to be stopped.

 This, the Hospital is challenging that it requires huge sum of money to refurbish the apartments that are currently in a bad state.

“Huge quantum of resources required for the rehabilitation, Management applied and secured approval to channel the rent deducted from occupants of our housing units into the rehabilitation of the rundown housing stock,” said. 

According to the statement signed by Head of Public Relation, Mustapha Salifu, an amnesty has been granted to all such defaulters, since the implementation of the accommodation policy will not take retroactive effect.

In preparation for the planned rehabilitation of the rundown accommodation units, a schedule was drawn to renovate all the accommodation units in phases. 

Since every change is welcomed with some level of apprehension, the statement said, “While a lot of staff were excited about the planned renovation, a handful of rent defaulters raised objections against the deductions. They subsequently petitioned for the rent deductions to be stopped.” 

It also made clear to staff who are kicking against the stoppage of free accommodation that “the authority to stop the deduction does not lie within the mandate of the Hospital Administration, but an understanding was reached and Management decided to refund the deductions and about four batches of the affected staff have already received their refunds.” 

The Hospital Administration urged all staff to exercise maximum restraint and be confident that the t will only take decisions that will inure to the benefit of its cherished staff.

Management also the assurance that its runs an open door policy and any staff who feels aggrieved is encouraged to contact and engage Management to address any issues that border them. 

By Akutu Dede Adimer