Samuel Amoateng Saffoh, the Head of the Pharmacy Department of the Upper East Regional Hospital, has died.
Almost everyone contacted about the unexpected occurrence on Sunday suspects foul play, claiming “he was not sick” and firmly linked it to the recent revelation of enormous thefts of government drugs at the hospital by a cartel.
Mr Saffoh was one of several top hospital executives called by authorities for further information after massive drug thefts were uncovered.
When the experienced chemist died, he was still offering more information to state detectives to help them solve the case.
Authorities at the hospital verified his death, stating that he died on the night of Saturday, September 23, 2023.
He had worked at the hospital for five years, according to the officials.
Following his untimely demise, a hospital source revealed on Sunday that Saffoh had organised an audit team to inventory all pharmaceuticals delivered to the regional hospital by the Ministry of Health (MoH) during the previous two years.
According to the source, the deceased was lately digging up “more facts and further traces” and had pledged that all those found guilty would be dealt with.
“He was not sick. He suddenly said he was not feeling well. We thought it was something small. Before we knew it, he was rushed to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). He was taken to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. And that ended it.
“How can such a strong man just die like that? He has a pharmacy opposite the regional office of the Progressive People’s Party on Bolga Stadium Road,” another source said.
His concerned coworkers have voiced amazement across the country, with one claiming she spoke to him on the phone only yesterday night from her employment in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
The second strange death is tied to a drug theft investigation and trial.
Mercy Alagpulinsa, a crucial witness who was set to testify in court against three hospital employees detained in connection with the medication thefts, died abruptly on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
According to sources, Alagpulinsa told them before her death that an Administrator at a Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), whose wife was one of the three accused, had sought to meet with her.
According to her, the Administrator indicated that he had hired a lawyer for his accused wife and would like to instruct her on what to tell the lawyer.
She allegedly stated that the Administrator also asked her to go to court as a witness for his wife.
According to Media Without Borders Alagpulinsa had knowledge concerning the administrator’s wife’s involvement in the drug thefts, as well as her intense unhappiness with the crimes.
According to the sources, Alagpulinsa met with the administrator and was removed not only because of the secret she knew but also because she may have denied the administrator’s request.
Alagpulinsa’s closest friend, who was with her on the day she died, stated that she had visited the Administrator at 12:00 p.m. before passing away hours later.
According to the source, she returned at about 1:00 p.m. with terrible stomach discomfort, sweating, and vomiting.
According to the source, there was froth in every vomit.
Alagpulinsa died with a four-month pregnancy, according to medical officials.
They also maintained that there was no connection between her death and the pregnancy.
Alagpulinsa was buried less than 24 hours after she died.
The Upper East Regional Police Command plans to exhume her body to investigate the reason of her death.
Samuel Amoateng Saffoh was not only the head of the Upper East Regional Hospital’s pharmacy department, but also the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA).
