A leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, says the governing NPP is unbothered about the state of the country’s healthcare because President Nana Akufo-Addo seeks medical attention abroad when he is unwell.
Joining as a panel on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Thursday, 20th April 2023, Mr. Edudzi Tamakloe registered his displeasure at how access to health care delivery by the ordinary Ghanaian had become a hard nut to crack in the country.
Although people lay claims of being under the Ghana National Health Scheme which confers on them an automatic right to good healthcare, majority of them have to back their visit to the hospital with monies for fear of not getting attended to.
The communications team member of the National Democratic Congress lamented the ineptitude of the government.
Mr. Tamakloe accused the president of his negligence over the situation and suggested that he was numb to what the ordinary Ghanaian felt.
“So the body language of Mr. Akuffo Addo and you see I’m sorry to say this. When our President is not well, he flies a jet outside for a medical check-up. He doesn’t use our health facility, he doesn’t. So, these things he cannot appreciate it.”
He reaffirmed the statement that “it is he who feels the pain that complains of where it itched the most.
“The person with the better appreciation of this narrative is the health minister. And that is why he’s saying that when he goes to UGMC, he goes to Ridge; he doesn’t even use his card because he knows it is worthless (sic),” he stated.
Contributing to the discussion, the host of the show, Dr. Randy Abbey said the complaint by the Health Minister was an indication of how woefully he had been at his job and added that he would have resigned from his position if he found himself in a different country.
“I don’t see any country in this world where a health minister of that country will say this and still continue in office. I mean where in this world, that a health minister knows that the health insurance scheme doesn’t work and he as a person, he’s been paying out of pocket, himself and his family? And he’s named the facilities where these occurred?”
Corroborating the assertion, Mr. Tamakloe stressed that it was time for the development of the health system to be made a priority and not have their heads on the table for propagandist statements.
“This is the state of affairs of our health. And this one is not propaganda. It is your own Health Minister that has issued a terminal report and signed the terminal report.
He accused the government of diverting the scheme’s funds to intangible enterprises such as the Cathedral and cabinet retreats.
“Look at the year 2021, when our president went on this whole thing about fantasies, you know, using luxurious private jets, paying in some instances, $ 20,000 per hour on a six-hour trip. I mean when you live such a luxurious life at the expense of people…”
Mr. Tamakloe further emphasized the need for a reassessment of the scheme with the relevant stakeholders for proper implementation.
By Leonora Enyonam Annoh | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
