Dr. Sengretsi and I entered the University of Ghana Medical School, the same year, and graduated together six years later. We became close friends during our postgraduate training years. We were in the same city in Scotland, Glasgow, but in different training institutions.
There, we met with our families on weekends to socialize and exchange ideas. Upon completion of the postgraduate training, we returned to Ghana where we worked in the same hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, he with the medical school, and I with the Ministry of Health.
Often, he asked me to join him when he had any job outside Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital. We offered specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology services to Family Hospital in Nkwakaw, and St Theresa Hospital in Nkoranza bi-monthly.
In the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, he was noted for his hard work. He was a “no-nonsense” man. He would not easily take “no” or “yes” just to please someone. He attended all departmental meetings and often contributed in all such meetings, often throwing in jokes here and there to keep everybody laughing.
He was not afraid to criticize anybody, including the hospital authorities. He was generous and ready to help everybody. When accommodation became problematic for me because the hospital administration was not keen to help, he suggested I got the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), Ashanti Region involved and he actually accompanied me to meet the council. It was through this interaction that I got my accommodation. The residence was allotted to me directly by the RCC.
Seth was an ardent lawn tennis player. He started playing lawn tennis from the medical school and maintained it throughout his carrier. Some believe it was this intensive training that made him survive his first heart attack which was severe enough to kill any ordinary person.
That day fortunately President Kufuor was in Kumasi for some rally. Through the effort of one of our colleague doctors, Seth was air-lifted by President Kufuor’s helicopter to the Cardio center in Korle-Bu.
Deterioration in his health came slowly. Initially, it was not easy to notice. I observed after sometime that Seth was not acting like his usual self during departmental meetings. He was often quiet, smiling only when needed.
After one such meeting, I voiced my observation with a colleague consultant and we decided to confront him. I arranged a meeting with Seth in my residence. There we voiced our observation but he denied he had a problem.
Seth’s condition continued deteriorating until he finally succumbed to the illness.
Credit to his wife, mother-in-law, and the children who kept faith and stood by Seth throughout all those difficult times.
May his soul rest in peace.