The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has come under scrutiny on social media after sharing news of the birth of his second child in the United States, at a time when the region’s largest referral facility, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, is grappling with severe congestion and resource challenges.
The controversy erupted after the minister, who is also a trained medical doctor, posted photos of himself with his newborn son, describing his role in the delivery process as “late night father duties” and joking that he also deserved congratulations.
However, the announcement quickly drew criticism from some social media users who questioned why the minister and his wife, a midwife, reportedly chose to have their child delivered in the United States rather than at a Ghanaian health facility.
One of the critics, political commentator Political Mavis, argued that both Dr. Amoakohene and his wife had previously worked at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, yet opted against using the facility for childbirth.
The post suggested that the decision reflected a lack of confidence in Ghana’s healthcare system and questioned whether public resources were used to facilitate the trip.
Another widely shared post by X user Fresh Prince of Agbogba described the situation as contradictory, stating that a medical doctor married to a nurse appeared unwilling to rely on the country’s healthcare system.
The user further questioned why the Ashanti Regional Minister did not place his trust in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, one of the region’s premier health institutions.
The criticism comes against the backdrop of recent reports that Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital temporarily suspended new emergency admissions due to overcrowding, intensifying public debate about the state of healthcare infrastructure in the Ashanti Region and across Ghana.
While some social media users joined the criticism, others defended the minister’s decision, arguing that where a family chooses to have a child is a personal matter.
Several users also congratulated the couple on the birth of their son and cautioned against drawing conclusions without full details about the circumstances surrounding the delivery.
As of publication, Dr. Amoakohene has not publicly responded to the criticism regarding the location of the birth or claims surrounding the trip.
The discussion continues to generate reactions online, with many weighing issues of public leadership, confidence in Ghana’s healthcare system, and the personal choices of public officials.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
