‘STATEMENT BY DR. MICHAEL K, OBENG Inthe past 24 hours, Ihave been overwhelmed by calls from fiends, family, patients and wellwishers expressing concern about reports inthe Ghana media regarding my alleged First ofall, would ike to assure everyone that 'm back home safely in Beverly Hills by the race ofthe Alrighty Gad. I flew into Ghana on July 21,2021, enroute to Gabon and Cameroon to evaluate and discuss the best way toimprove the health care delivery inthe region. This inched but not limited to, providing fee reconstructive surgeries for their nationals through my non-profit organization, RESTORE Worldwide, Inc. | have never performed surgery in Ghana for money. And this time around | didnot perform surgery for money, thi isnot the reason why Icome to Ghana. Ihave been traveling to Ghana with my team of doctors and volunteers forthe past 14 years to perform free reconstructive surgeries. To date we have performed over 1,000 surgeries valued in excess 0F 30 milion US Dollars, including a substantial amount of my own money. The Ghana "Medical and Dental Council know me well and are aware of my RESTORE foundation an its activities. [My Bevery Hill office is frequently inundated with requests from Ghanaians wanting to know i and when | would be performing surgeries in Ghana. We have always responded categorically thet | do not perform cosmetic surgeries in Ghana, 3 some of them will request an online consultation since they are nat able to travel to the US beeauze of COVID 19 and other reasons. [My staff being aware of my tin to Ghana put out a notice an our socal media platform that "had agreed to see a few of such potential patents during my stayin Ghana. Payment for consultation was to be made directly through my Beverly His offic by creditcard before the meetings were scheduled, | was notified that a particular gentleman had contacted my office in Bevery Hills and indicated that he didnot have a credit card but required a meeting with me. My office went ahead and scheduled the appointment accordingly. (On the July 22, 022, the said gentleman presented himself to be evaluated for liposuctor. | recommendedta him that he will need to came to Beverly Hills for surgery if he so chooses. lalso discovered that he had an umbilical hernia, My office had informed the _gentleman to bring his consultation fe of $800 and advised him to give to my security personnel, An hour ater he returned with some ather people claiming tobe from the GhanaMedical and Dental Council and the Ghana Palce CID Department. Subsequent enquires have revealed thatthe Medical and Dental Council were not aware ofthis individual and Ns activities, neither had they glven any such instructions. Improving health care around the sub-region i my passion and ifelong mission. Whilst in ‘Ghana earlier last month, amongst other things Iwas invited to join the team of surgeons :0 separate the conjoined twins, which gladly accepted. I had the opportunity to examine the ‘wins at Ridge Hospital in Accra with no issues, lwas also asked to help a woman from the Volta Region with a massive tumour an her face and | willingly obliged todo the surgery for tree. | have instructed my lawyers both in Ghana and in Los Angeles to lookito tis matter and take any and allappropriate actions against what i clearly an attempt to tarnish my hard |won reputation. | wil also ask all the media houses that published this unfortunate story ‘that lumped me together with alleged quack doctors to retract and apologise immediately Michael K. Obeng. MD, FACS Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery linkal Asst. Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Director, MiKO Pati Surgery Director, MiKO Surgery Center President & CEO, Global Health Solution Founder & CEO, RESTORE Worldwide, In. O5- OF -202/ Date: