By Nii Martey M. Botchway
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – A staff of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC), Mr. Frederick Koomson has been arrested for allegedly embezzling funds, and forging receipts belonging to the council.
Mr. Koomson who is being investigated for allegedly taking huge sums of monies from customers was arrested moments after being served with an indefinite suspension letter.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Dr. Yakubu Tobor Yusuf, the Registrar of the council said an audit findings focused on human resource, salary, and financial-related issues, uncovered several irregularities from the activities of Mr. Koomson.:
He said some of the irregularities included receiving huge sums of monies without issuing receipts, and issuing receipts for amounts less than the actual amount collected.
He said in one of the instances, Mr. Koomson took GHC9,000 from the Chinese Acupuncture Clinic when the actual amount paid to the council was GHC265.00 and in another received GHC7,000 from another client, Nikki Massage Center, when the actual amount paid to the council was GHC165.
Dr. Yusuf said that following recommendations From the audit report, the TMPC had taken several actions to address the issues, including: taking steps to recover funds misappropriated by Mr. Koomson.
He however explained that Mr. Koomson who was facing disciplinary action for his involvement in previous similar cases had to be handed over to the police to take up the matter.
“The council is working to sanitize its internal operations to restore public health and confidence in the traditional and alternative medicine space,” he said.
Dr. Yusuf further noted that the TMPC was also cracking down on recalcitrant practitioners and quacks, emphasizing the importance of compliance with regulations and standards in the traditional medicine industry.
“The council aims to restore public trust and confidence in the industry by ensuring that practitioners operate within the bounds of the law,” he said.
GNA