By Julius Konton
The protest…follows allegation that the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Bendu Mensah, physically assaulted a doctor during a confrontation.
Operations at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC), is said to have been significantly disrupted as doctors embark on an indefinite “go-slow” action.
The protest erupted over an assault on a medical doctor, and subsequent administrative decisions some of workers deem “unjust.”
The protest, which began earlier this week, follows allegations that the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Bendu Mensah, physically assaulted a doctor during a confrontation inside the facility.
The incident is said to have ignited widespread outrage within the medical community, and raised broader concerns about governance, workplace safety, and professionalism in the fragile healthcare system.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
According to multiple hospital sources, the altercation reportedly occurred when Madam Mensah, who also serves as Deputy CEO for Administration, instructed a doctor (name withheld), to find bed space for a patient she had brought.
The doctor allegedly declined, stating that patient placement falls outside his direct responsibilities, and instead chose to continue attending to his assigned duties.
Witnesses claim this response angered Madam Mensah, culminating in an alleged physical slap.
Unconfirmed reports further suggest the doctor attempted to retaliate before security personnel intervened.
Police were later called to the scene, and the doctor was reportedly forcibly removed after refusing to leave voluntarily.
Neither party has publicly provided a detailed account of the incident, leaving room for competing narratives and intensifying calls for transparency.
In the immediate aftermath, tensions escalated when the hospital’s head of clinical services, Dr. John Emmanuel Tamba, allegedly took administrative action against the doctor involved.
While some staff members claim the doctor was removed from duty, Dr. Tamba has publicly refuted the claims, stating that the individual was suspended for “misconduct pending the outcome of an internal investigation.”
“This is not a removal, but a suspension in line with administrative procedures. A full-scale investigation is currently underway,” Dr. Tamba said in a phone interview.
However, many doctors view the suspension as “punitive and premature, arguing that it undermines due process and appears to favor senior management.”
In solidarity with their colleague, dozens of doctors at the facility have adopted a “go-slow strategy continuing to work, but significantly reducing the pace of non-emergency services.”
They have also demanded a formal apology from Madam Mensah, and assurances of a safe and respectful working environment.
Medical practitioners warn that the situation reflects deeper structural issues within the healthcare system, including: weak institutional accountability; chronic understaffing and overwork with administrative interference in clinical roles, as well as lack of clear protocols for conflict resolution.
As investigations continue, the situation remains tense, with hospital operations partially slowed and public confidence at stake.