“We Must All Take Keen Interest in the Health of Our Presidential Candidates” – Young Cadres

A Patriotic group in Ghana which identifies itself as Young Cadres Association have add their voice to the growing chorus surrounding the publications in New Yorks based African Watch Magazine which suggest that, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party Nana Akufo-Addo is suffering from cancer and other dangerous diseases.

The group in a statement , a copy of which is available to Ghanapoliticsonline, have indicated that, in the light of they being conscious about the fond memories and difficulties that led to the sad passing away of President John Atta Mills and ,it is their prayers always that Ghana will not suffer such trying and tragic moments.

The group has further stated that, to avert occurences of such diffult times, they are by their statement copied to Ghanapoliticsonline.com calling on Presidential candidates of all political parties to make public their health records just as it is done in some of the western countries

Below is the full statement

“We Must All Take Keen Interest in the Health of Our Presidential Candidates” – Young Cadres

July 24th, 2012 will forever leave an indelible mark on the memory of our dear nation. On this day, the late President John Evans Attah Mills was called by his Maker to take a break from his earthly activities and join Him in heaven to continue his work. The day, for most Ghanaians, started off as a normal day but ended with dark clouds and an eerie mist of sorrow hanging over the nation. Sad as this event was, Ghanaians from all walks of life must have learnt one bitter lesson – never to toy with the health of our elected officials. The reason being that, when we decide to play poker with the health of our leaders and the grim reaper strikes, the full repercussions of our inactions hand loosely around our necks like an albatross and will continue to haunt us as a nation for a long while.

Campaigning towards the 2016 elections is in full swing and presidential candidates and their parliamentary picks alike are busy crisscrossing the nation to garner support and the necessary votes for their election. This is a very tedious exercise and such and undertaking demands enormous energy. For even the healthy candidates, it not uncommon to see a significant toll on their health after the campaign season. And for the less-healthy candidates, such vigorous exercises could lead to a further deterioration in their health after the campaign season.

Against this backdrop, it is only prudent that in the light of recent revelations by the AfricaWatch magazine about the health of Nana Akufo Addo, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Ghanaians as a whole entreat all our presidential candidates in the upcoming general elections to, as a matter of urgency, subject themselves to independent medical examinations and cause the results of these check-ups to be made public. Seeing how serious the alleged sicknesses of Nana Akufo Addo are, the NPP must desist from treating this issue as an internal party issue because in the unlikely event that Nana Akufo Addo is elected President of this republic, Ghanaians cannot afford to have another president dying on the throne. Cancer, kidney and heart diseases all lumped together is no child’s play and thus we all must not play unnecessary politics with this issue.

We the Young Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are of the view that, having served his country as Member of Parliament and a Minister, Ghanaians would not be so heartless to turn a blind eye towards helping Nana Akufo Addo go through treatment of his diseases, that is, if his party is unable to support him financially. Nana Addo and the NPP must thus come out boldly to confirm the veracity or otherwise of the claims made in the AfricaWatch publication so that we all could help mobilize resources for his treatment. We are all human, and the certainty of ageing is as sure as the setting of the sun. And in the ageing process, more often than not, the body succumbs to all sorts of diseases which eventually weaken our systems and slow us in the performance of our duties.

In resorting to democracy, we have always looked up to the Western world to guide us in our practices. And in that part of the world, it is not uncommon for candidates gunning to become leaders of their nations to open themselves up for the public to know the true state of their health. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, two candidates running to become the next president of the United States of America have all released their medical records to the public domain. Why can’t we as a people who have always looked up to the United States, do same here?

President Mills’ death is still fresh on our minds and, unfortunately, it is a sad reminder of what we as a nation failed to collectively demand from our leaders.

We the Young Cadres will like to call upon the Christian Council, the Office of the National Chief Imam, Civil Society Organizations and all well-meaning Ghanaians to demand from all people vying to become President of this country in this year’s elections to subject themselves to medical examinations and cause the results of this examinations to be made public. After all, if our leaders are able to declare their assets, why can’t they declare their health status? Which is greater and more important, the assets or the health status?

Long Live Ghana
Long Live NDC
Long Live Young Cadres

Signed: Bright Botchway
General Secretary
Young Cadres Association