New Twist: Credibility of Ofori-Atta’s Mayo Clinic medical report in doubts

A leading neurosurgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Habi Mohammed Abdullah, has raised concerns about the authenticity and clarity of two medical letters allegedly issued by the Mayo Clinic in the United States regarding the health status of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

Dr. Abdullah shared his thoughts during an interview on JoyNews on Saturday, June 7, 2025. According to him, the details in the two letters concerning Ofori-Atta’s diagnosis and treatment do not seem to align properly.

He pointed out that both letters mention prostate cancer, but the information they provide appears inconsistent.

He stated that the second letter refers to a procedure that, by medical standards, is simple and typically completed within a single day—even in Ghana.

“From the two letters that I’ve seen, it was clear that as at March, he would be undergoing surgery. So, it’s very difficult to reconcile the two letters because the second letter now says that they had to undergo MRI-guided biopsy. So, it means as at that time, no diagnosis had been made unless Mayo wants to send that information that the biopsy was the surgery that they were talking about.

“But usually, biopsies are done as a day activity. Usually, in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, it is done on the ward, and the patient goes home the same day. Some even do it in the clinics. So, it’s very difficult to reconcile the two letters,” he said.

He stressed that this type of biopsy is not an intensive or complex surgery. Rather, it is a diagnostic step that is regularly performed in hospitals across Ghana.

“This is what we do in Korle-Bu and I’m sure in many, many hospitals across the country where urological services are available,” he reiterated.

Dr. Abdullah further explained that the MRI-guided biopsy mentioned in the second letter is simply used to confirm a diagnosis. It is not the kind of surgery used to remove cancer or treat the condition itself.

He emphasized that this particular medical procedure is something that can be done easily in Ghana. However, it seems the former minister has chosen to receive the service abroad, likely due to personal preference rather than a lack of capacity in local hospitals.