AFAG: President Mahama Sets The Records Wrong

In the wake of the new 5,000 USD quoted by President Mahama at the last IEA presidential debate as the cost of training one medical doctor in Cuba, we are on the principles of transparent and accountable governance callingon President Mahama to set the records straight in other to clear the minds of Ghanaians once and for all on the matter. This is most imperative against the background of the official agreement signed on behalf of the people of Ghana by the then vice president and now president with the government of Cuba. Under the revised Cuban Agreement which was brokered by now president Mahama pegged the figure of training the 250 Ghanaian students in Cuba at a cost of GHC 14,622,530.00 per annum. This by simple arithmetic puts the average cost of one student at a colossal figure of GH 58,490.12 (584,000,000 old Ghana Cedis). This is in sharp contrast with the 5,000 US dollars (10,000 Cedis at the current exchange rate) quoted by the president. It is instructive to note here, that with superior infrastructure in training than what currently pertains in Cuba, the Ghana Medical Association puts the total cost of training a medical doctor at a cost of GHC 12,000 per annum. Thus the savings which could have accrued to us should the training have been done in Ghana is clear. Again we find as great source of worry, that whiles the president was quick to rebut the claim of theNPP presidential candidate on the cost of the program, he turned a blind eye on the position of the Cuban government that it is totally responsible for the cost of the entire package. �Cuban government would provide scholarship for all the 250 students, who were selected from deprived communities throughout the country and would be ready to come back and serve those communities on completion�.http://www.cubadiplomatica.cu/ghana/EN/BilateralRelations/tabid/17280/ctl/Details/mid/27048/ItemID/16365/Default.aspx AFAG�s POSITION In view of the evidence at hand, we can say without ant fear of contradiction, that the president misled Ghanaians on the occasion. In simple terms, he was not truthful to Ghanaians. Consequently, we are calling on the president to as a matter of urgency come clean to perpetually put the matter to rest. Thank you. Signed: Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye Arnold Boateng Davis Opoku Ansah Henry Haruna Asante