The Medical and Dental Council has arrested and prosecuting twelve (12) quack dentists, six (6) quack doctors and one unregistered practicing doctor in the Greater Accra, Central and Brong-Ahafo regions between January to July 2021.
This comes after the Medical and Dental Council began conducting routine quality assurance monitoring exercise aimed at ascertaining, among others, the registration status of practitioners and the standard of practice in various institutions across the country.
The acting registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Divine Banyubala assured the public that “it will, with dedication, continue to work with all stakeholders to guide the profession, promote, protect and assure public health, safety and wellbeing of all persons accessing healthcare in the country”.
He commended the continuous support of the EOCO, the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of National Security, the Judicial Service, and members of the public who provide valuable information to assist in regulating activities of health professionals.
Details on Arrest of Quack Doctors and Dentists
On Wednesday February 10, 2021, D.S.P. Rev. John Agbemabiase of the Zenu Atadeka District Police Command of the Ghana Police Service informed the Medical and Dental Council (MDC) of the arrest of suspected quack doctor, Paul Amoanoo and called for assistance of the Council to investigate the matter.
The investigations indicated that, one Madam Lucky Teiko Nyinaku was rushed in labour to the Royal Medi-Herb Clinic located at Peace Land for delivery. The clinic was being operated by the suspect, Paul Amoanoo who is a self-styled doctor.
Madam Lucky reportedly gave birth to a live baby boy. Madam Lucky is said to have started bleeding profusely and was later pronounced dead upon arrival at the Trinity Community Hospital, Zenu following a late referral by the suspect. The live baby boy died about an hour after birth also under the care of the suspect.
The suspect was arrested and interrogated; he admitted being the owner of the facility and the one who attended to the victims. He claimed to be a traditional birth attendant but was unable to provide any documentation as a proof of training and certificate of practice. The facility was also not registered by the Health Facilities and Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) to operate as a health facility.
The accused later stated that he was a trained physician assistant but had no license to practice.
The suspect has been arraigned before the Ashaiman Circuit Court. He was subsequently admitted to bail and the trail is ongoing at the Ashaiman Circuit Court.
On the arrest of Prince Tutu at the St Kyeadee Clinic, Dormaa-Babianiha, the council received information about the activities of a suspected quack doctor by name Prince Tutu. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had forged the Medical and Dental Council’s permanent license for physician assistants suggesting he had been registered with the council to practice medicine since February 9, 2014.
The suspect also forged a document purported to be a certificate from the Shenyang Medical College in China suggesting that he graduated from the said university in March, 2018 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of surgery degree. He also forged documents purporting to be a laboratory technician.
He further forged the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service receipts suggesting he had paid to the Council his permanent registration fee for the year 2020 and retention fees for the year 2021. The suspect used these forged documents to obtain employment at various private health facilities.
The suspect was discovered to be working at the St. Kyeadee Clinic at Dormaa Babianiha near Dormaa Ahenkro. The team sought the assistance of the Dormaa Ahenkro Divisional Command of the Ghana Police Service and got the suspect arrested on May 15, 2021.
When he was interrogated at the scene, he admitted that he was neither a trained medical professional nor licensed to lawfully practice medicine or dentistry in Ghana. The suspect admitted that he used that forged documents to obtain employment and worked in various private health facilities including Royal Family Hospital around Lapaz in Accra and also attend to patients in their homes.
The suspect was arraigned before the Dormaa Ahenkro Circuit Court on May 16, 2021, admitted to bail and the trail is currently ongoing.
Upon tip-off, the council has been monitoring the activities of one Samuel Lanquaye Snr. and his daughters who were suspected of practicing medicine illegally at Assin Adadientem No.2 in the Central region.
The team was able to catch the suspect and one of his daughters, Albertha in the illegal act. Albertha was arrested while in the process of attending to a number of patients including a member of the investigations team at a health Centre in the community. When interrogated, she claimed to be working under the tutelage of his father who has been the medical practitioner in charge of the facility for the past 36 years in order to gain practical experience before going to the nursing training college.
They were arrested with the assistance of men from the Assin Fosso Divisional Police Command. Huge volumes of medications and other medical materials were collected from the facility and the place closed down on account of public health, safety and wellbeing.
Both suspects have since been processed and were put before the Assin Fosso District Magistrate Court on Friday June 25, 2021, where committal proceedings are currently ongoing. They have both since been granted bail by the court.
The Medical and Dental Council also received a number of complaints from both patients and practitioners about activities of some suspected quack dentists operating in the East Legon and Asylum Down areas both in Accra.
On Tuesday June 8, 2021, twelve suspects all working in the name of Laser smile teeth whitening Centre, were arrested with the support of the Nima Divisional Police Command and the East Legon District Police Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service.
It was established that the scope of services rendered were regulated dental services and the suspects did not possess the technical competence and the requisite licenses to lawfully provide those services. The facility was closed down on account of public health, safety and wellbeing.
The management of the facility has since taken the needed steps to have qualified dental practitioners take over the provision of quality and safe dental services in accordance with the health sector regulatory requirements.
Again, the council became aware of a social media advertisement from one Dr. Michael K. Obeng soliciting clients for medical consultation in cosmetic surgery at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel on Thursday July 22, 2021. The advert stated that prospective clients were to pay an amount of 500.000 dollars as a consultation fee.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the said individual was not a registered practitioner. With the assistance of a team of officers from the Accra Regional Police CID, the suspect was arrested on the same day. It was established that the suspect was a US-based plastic surgeon who had previously, in accordance with professional expectation and law, registered on Council’s temporary register.
The practitioner has since been released on police enquiry bail to assist the police in further investigations.
A team from the MDC conducted headcount investigations within the Dormaa municipality and its environs from Wednesday July 7 to Saturday July 17, 2021. During the course of the exercise, Mr. Osei Bonsu Hayford was arrested practicing medicine illegally at the O.B Saviour Clinic at Koraso, a suburb of Dormaa Ahenkro. Upon interrogation, he claimed to be an alternative medical practitioner.
However, the investigations that led to the arrest of the suspect clearly established that he was practicing orthodox medicine for which he had no formal training or license to practice. The suspect doubled as the owner of the facility.
The facility has since been closed down in the interest of public health, safety and wellbeing.
The suspect has since been granted police enquiry bail and is assisting the police in further investigations.
During the same exercise as above, the team of investigators came across one Daniel Adjei who was practicing medicine at the Ohenewaa Meomorial Clinic located at the heart of the Dorma Ahenkro Township just beside the District Police Headquarters.
The suspect was arrested as he was found not to be a licensed or qualified medical practitioner. After his arrest, he claimed to be a registered general nurse but could not produce his PIN with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to the team.
The facility was closed down in accordance with law and in the interest of public health, safety and wellbeing.
The suspect has since been granted police enquiry bail and is assisting the police in carrying out further investigations. The owner of the facility has also been invited by the police to assist in investigations.
The public and members of the professions are encouraged to continue to support Council’s regulatory efforts by providing information about the conduct and competence of practitioners through the following means;
Cell: 0200369407
Fixed Line: +233030306610606/ +23303030661620
Website: ww.mdcghana.org
Members of the public may also report directly to the head office located at Adjabeng, Accra-Central and other zonal offices:
Tamale, Regional Health Directorate (0507231540)
Kumasi, Adum-Kumasi (0503964085)
Takoradi, Fijai, Dr. Amoah’s Clinic (0202493884
