Web Master
A former Minister of Communication in the Mahama government, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has kicked against government’s decision to use the Bank of Ghana hospital as treatment centre for coronavirus VIP patients.
Speaking to the media in an interview, Dr Omane Boamah, who is back in the consulting room, said having a separate hospital to treat coronavirus patients was tantamount to having an apartheid system.
“In an emergency like this, you are doing segregation, an apartheid system where the poor goes here, and the rich goes there”
“Having a VIP hospital for coronavirus patients is so wrong, I am surprised they will do this,” he stressed.
He was referring to an announcement by the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, at a press briefing, in Accra, where he said the Bank of Ghana Hospital would be used for treating coronavirus VIP patients.
“We have had engagements with the Bank of Ghana and they’ve released two floors that will take care of 20 beds for our use.
“Because the facility doesn’t belong to the Ministry of Health, Bank of Ghana has agreed that their own people and some VIPs personnel will be allowed there.
“So, in case we have some of you here as VIP people, we’re likely to take you there,” the minister said to laughter from the audience.
But the former Communication Minister believed the government’s efforts should rather be towards avoiding further infections which would translate into a high demand for ventilators.
“Let’s work to avoid a high demand for ventilators lest the poor and underprivileged are left out,” he said.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings