Rising tension in Asankragwa township following a death threat by an uncle of the two main contestants in tomorrow's Amenfi West bye-election, Asamoah Bandah, on Dr. Osei Kofi a Medical Doctor at the Asankragwa Catholic Hospital has led to the sudden departure of the only doctor in the town.
A source close to the hospital administration told The Heritage that a sister of the two contestants, Victoria Danquah, fell sick on Sunday April 20 and was admitted to hospital in the evening.
According to reliable information, the uncle, upon hearing the news that his niece had been admitted, rushed to the hospital and requested to know the kind of prescription the Dr. Osei had issued for the patient.
The source said Asamoah shockingly issued his own prescription and threatened to kill the doctor if he dared get close to his niece; "I will blow off your head if you dare get closer to her", he threatened.
Asamoah, who is domiciled in the U.S.A., immediately left the hospital ward but threatened that he would come back later.
Dr. Osei Kofi fearing for his dear life, telephoned the District Chief Executive, Alberto Tekyi, who immediately rushed to the hospital to intervene. By then, Asamoah was nowhere in sight.
The DCE later summoned the District Superintendent of Police who promptly provided security for the Medical Officer throughout the night.
Not satisfied with the security measures provided Dr. Osei Kofi reportedly woke up the following morning at about 4 am, visited Victoria on her sick bed before returning to his house to pack all his belongings. He then left the town unceremoniously.
Hospital sources said, though his two-and-half-year contract with the hospital has not yet expired, he has sworn never to return to Asankragwa.
The development has rendered the two contestants suddenly unpopular as some constituent are blaming them for the departure of the only medical officer in the area who has hitherto been taking care of the over 150,000 inhabitants.
The shocking incident has given Ebo Archer the Democratic People's Party DPP candidate a late advantage over NDC's Gerald Danquah and his sister as he is poised to win some votes in the Asankragua township.