Responses: I deserve ‘protocol service.’ I must be seen first.
Response 1 (from a former classmate, currently in the USA):
I fought in the ECO Bank at Ash-Town when I was in Ghana in January this year, I was in the queue when three or four men jumped the queue, I asked why and the manager was telling me those people are holding high positions in the government. I was so mad and angry, I finally left the Bank without doing what I was supposed to do.
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Response 2 (from a friend in the USA. He gave me permission to share it):
This protocol issue is a big problem in our country. In most institutions (hospitals/clinics or any other public or private service) in the US, people book appointments or go to the institutions and issue a ‘ticket’ from a koisk/computer. These ticket numbers are displayed on monitors or screens and indicate the window you should go to be served (receive service).
My wife was complaining of back pains. She called about 3 different facilities, which are ‘in-network’ with our health insurance. Almost all of them gave her an appointment, which were about 3 months away. She couldn’t get to visit those facilities before we relocated to Nevade. She called around March but the earliest she got was the 2nd week of June. We were to leave Colorado on 31st May 2023.
No protocol biara.
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Maybe the question we should ask ourselves is why Ghanaians outside Ghana are prepared to join queues (over many months), do not ‘make noise’ about how they served those countries or the position(s) they occupy/occupied, but once in Ghana the Ghanaian system ‘owes them a duty’ to make them jump queues.
This was a response to my piece ‘Disrespect or taking Ghana and Ghanaians for granted? The practice of many Ghanaians living outside the country‘ (written on February 1, 2023):
Response 1 (someone sent this to me):
I was chatting with a mate of mine currently living in the UK…he had booked his child to see a pediatrician for a year now, they are still waiting!!
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Response from a senior medical doctor in Ghana:
Truth is; appointment systems work very well if everyone obeys. The exceptions, barring any misuse, are:
1. Private patients OR cash and carry with an optional higher price which makes you join ANOTHER ALBEIT SHORTER WAITING TIME.
2. Emergencies which will be dealt by Emergency Department and either be treated, admitted or discharged TO GO JOIN THE NORMAL WAITING TIME WHEN DEEMED NOT TO BE THE EMERGENCY THAT IT WAS CLAIMED TO BE. So even as a staff of such an institution, it is only in this caveat you can help someone who presents as ” Emergency” by giving them the DEFINITIVE TREATMENT even if it turned out to be a cold case. e.g. A Hydrocele presenting in the Emergency Room could be seen, ultrasound done and labs, appointment for surgery is given according to the availability of OP space. In this case the person skips the OPD specialist Consultation but joins the OP waiting time. People don’t understand the 2 waiting times: waiting for specialist consult, labs and decisions and then waiting for OP itself if necessary.
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Response 4:
Is the system ooo
Over there everyone joins and if you don’t someone will put you in order
They learn about this from childhood by observing their parents.
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Response 5 (from a medical doctor/specialist who trained outside Ghana):
In particular, in Ghana it is this sense of entitlement that makes those in leadership positions (with control over all the resources) still see no need to improve services by let’s say improving infrastructural, fiscal and human resources. In my country of study, when they go and see any new thing, they will ask: “…..bizde de var mi?”.. literally meaning “….do we have this at our place too…?” If the answer is no the leader would say: “…hemen goturun…”, also meaning “…send some immediately”. The Ghanaian leaders who don’t understand why they were elected would rather come and make laws that will allow them to use meagre state MONEY to go and enjoy those services wherever they are. SHAME UNTO THESE LEADERS.
I want you to share the above, it will at least reach some of us who would lead tomorrow so that we know what shame is and what leadership is.
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Response 6 (from the President of a Club):
Well, I remember when I had solicited assistance from some friends and topped up for a young man to come undergo a surgical procedure there at your hospital. I told him I knew you, but knowing you, I didn’t give him your contact or your name to look for you. I simply told him he’ll be very well taken care of and exactly that happened. But… I think I mentioned him to you and as expected, your response was something like “he’ll be well attended to” 😂 😂 😂
Indeed, if we’ll all play our parts regardless of who we know or who knows us, we won’t have to worry about quality services.
