Contrary to recent allegations, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) refutes claims that a Chinese inmate from Nsawam Prison absconded while undergoing treatment for a toothache at the hospital.
In response to reports from the prison service indicating the escape of a Chinese national serving a one-year sentence for theft, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Salifu, clarified that the information was inaccurate. According to Salifu, the inmate departed the hospital under the supervision of accompanying prison guards.
He mentioned, “The portrayal in the media lacks accuracy.”
In an interview with Laud Harris Adu-Asare of TV3, Salifu recounted the events, explaining that Wang Xiao, a 39-year-old inmate, was brought to KBTH on Monday, February 12, 2024, for a dental examination. Following the assessment, he was advised to return on a later date as the officers accompanying him did not have sufficient funds to cover his treatment expenses.
“He [Wang Xiao] came to KBTH in the company of two prison guards on account of a toothache. Once he got to the hospital, we observed that he was in handcuffs. But they moved out and reported back at about 8 am for the registration formalities.
“After the registration, he was asked to pay an amount of GH¢167 because he was a non-Ghanaian. He then proceeded to the consulting room where he was attended to and assessed. After the assessment, it happened that he had to go for an X-ray examination. While going for the X-ray, he was still in handcuffs,” he stated.
Elaborating further, the PRO mentioned that due to the additional expenses associated with treating Wang Xiao, they decided to postpone the appointment to a later date. He added that since their departure, they have not returned to the hospital.
“He, together with the officers who came with him, were briefed on what is going to be done for his pain to go away, which was going to cost about GH¢606.00. So, when this was announced to them, the officer said he wasn’t having enough money on him so, we should reschedule and come back to the clinic on Friday, February 9, 2024. Since then, we have not seen him.
“But he left the clinic in the company of the prison guards. So, as far as we are concerned, the inmate left with the guards that came with him and he did not escape while in our custody,” he stated.
Mustapha Salifu also emphasized that the condition in which the Chinese national, Wang Xiao, was brought to the hospital did not necessitate his admission.
“Let me mention that the patient was not on admission. It was just a visit to the clinic, and his condition did not require that he was admitted to the ward,” he added.
