Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) for the Juaboso constituency and the Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has cautioned government not to factor political affiliations in its health sector appointments.
According to the MP, the politicization of health sector appointments will cause further divisions which will have dire consequences on the quality of service provided by the sector in the near future.
“We will get to a point that, when you get to hospital, you [will be told that you are an NPP so look for an NPP doctor.. to come and take care of you, it’s a dangerous precedence we are leaving behind,” he stated.
Akandoh made this statement in reaction to news that the appointment of Dr Baffour Awuah as the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has been withdrawn because it is alleged that he is more affiliated to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“We are judging the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service by the political party he joins, that he is not a full member of the NPP, therefore, his appointment must be withdrawn?”
He was speaking in an interview with ghananewsonline.com.gh.
Mr Akandoh said it is worrying that the government has not given the public any reason for the termination of Dr Baffour’s appointment raising concerns on its validity.
“[Government] should give a reason why you will appoint a person and in less than a month, you will withdraw [the appointment]”
He urged Ghanaians to urgently unite against any attempt to politicize the health sector.
Source: Jonas Danquah || ghananewsonline.com.gh