Audio Attachment:Listen to Allotey Jacobs on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' program. |
Social Commentator, Allotey Jacobs, has admonished the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cease its verbal attacks against President Nana Akufo-Addo over the latter's pledge to construct 88 district hospitals in the country.
Addressing the nation in his 8th update on COVID-19, President Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed some deficiencies that need in the health sector.
President's Promise
He disclosed that the threat of COVID-19 has however aided the government to identify certain health needs that must be put in place to ensure the nation beefs up the health sector.
"Just as the virus has disrupted our daily lives, it has also exposed the deficiencies of our healthcare system, because of years of under-investment and neglect. Whilst maternal, new-born, adolescent health and nutrition remain our top priorities, we must pay increased attention to chronic, noncommunicable diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes and asthma, which have proved to be the common risk factors for the eleven (11) deaths we have recorded from the virus".
In view of this, the President indicated his "government has decided to undertake a major investment in our healthcare infrastructure, the largest in our history. We will, this year, begin constructing eighty-eight (88) hospitals in the districts without hospitals. It will mean ten (10) in Ashanti, nine (9) in Volta, nine (9) in Central, eight (8) in Eastern, seven (7) in Greater Accra, seven (7) in Upper East, five (5) in Northern, five (5) in Oti, five (5) in Upper West, five (5) in Bono, four (4) in Western North, four (4) in Western, three (3) in Ahafo, three (3) in Savannah, two (2) in Bono East, and two (2) in North East Regions. Each of them will be a quality, standard-design, one hundred bed hospital, with accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers, and the intention is to complete them within a year. We have also put in place plans for the construction of six (6) new regional hospitals in the six (6) new regions, and the rehabilitation of the EffiaNkwanta Hospital, in Sekondi, which is the regional hospital of the Western Region".
But hours after the President's remarks, the leadership and members of the NDC sought to question the viability of the projects within a year, and further slam the President for taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to rehash his campaign promises.
Rehash of "pretentious" 2016 campaign promises
NDC Member of Parliament for Juaboso constituency and Ranking Member on Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh in an interview on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show asked the President to be "cognizant of his status as a President when addressing the nation on the state of the COVID-19. We are obliged to listen to the President and help him fight the COVID-19, but the moment he switches into political promises then there will be issues because when it comes to political campaign promises, the President has a certain pedigree...So, if the President comes to paint a picture as if he has now seen the need to build district hospitals due to the COVID-19, then it is not true, the President was not truthful to us because there was no COVID-19 in 2016. He should prove me wrong if he didn’t promise this to Ghanaians in the party's manifesto''.
Criticisms Premature
However, speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' program, Wednesday, Allotey Jacobs opined that it would have been best for the NDC to adopt a wait-and-see approach for awhile to know whether the project could even be rolled out, before attempting to shoot it down entirely.
To him, it is 'premature' for the NDC to cast doubts over the feasibility of the President's promise in improving the health sector because it was not captured in this year's budget.
"If he says he will construct them, we have to exercise patience and watch him. Where is he going to get the funds? How is he going to start? Should he claim to have started one or two, bear in mind that the residents in whose districts the hospitals are being constructed can bear witness or otherwise. So, for me, it is premature for him to be criticized because you're even urging him on to even find resources to start the projects . . . If he can do it or not, what is important is that 88 districts in this country needs hospitals.
''When it's getting close to elections and he hasn't begun, then you can call out his bluff, but it's too early to even say that it will be difficult or impossible to find the resources to complete it," the former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC stated.
Watch Video Below
Social Commentator, Allotey Jacobs, has admonished the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to cease its verbal attacks against President Nana Akufo-Addo over the latter's pledge to construct 88 district hospitals in the country.
Addressing the nation in his 8th update on COVID-19, President Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed some deficiencies that need in the health sector.
President's Promise
He disclosed that the threat of COVID-19 has however aided the government to identify certain health needs that must be put in place to ensure the nation beefs up the health sector.
"Just as the virus has disrupted our daily lives, it has also exposed the deficiencies of our healthcare system, because of years of under-investment and neglect. Whilst maternal, new-born, adolescent health and nutrition remain our top priorities, we must pay increased attention to chronic, noncommunicable diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes and asthma, which have proved to be the common risk factors for the eleven (11) deaths we have recorded from the virus".
In view of this, the President indicated his "government has decided to undertake a major investment in our healthcare infrastructure, the largest in our history. We will, this year, begin constructing eighty-eight (88) hospitals in the districts without hospitals. It will mean ten (10) in Ashanti, nine (9) in Volta, nine (9) in Central, eight (8) in Eastern, seven (7) in Greater Accra, seven (7) in Upper East, five (5) in Northern, five (5) in Oti, five (5) in Upper West, five (5) in Bono, four (4) in Western North, four (4) in Western, three (3) in Ahafo, three (3) in Savannah, two (2) in Bono East, and two (2) in North East Regions. Each of them will be a quality, standard-design, one hundred bed hospital, with accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers, and the intention is to complete them within a year. We have also put in place plans for the construction of six (6) new regional hospitals in the six (6) new regions, and the rehabilitation of the EffiaNkwanta Hospital, in Sekondi, which is the regional hospital of the Western Region".
But hours after the president's remarks, the leadership and members of the NDC sought to question the viability of the projects within a year, and further slam the President for taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to rehash his campaign promises.
Rehash of "pretentious" 2016 campaign promises
NDC Member of Parliament for Juaboso constituency and Ranking Member on Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh in an interview on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show asked the President to be "cognizant of his status as a President when addressing the nation on the state of the COVID-19. We are obliged to listen to the President and help him fight the COVID-19, but the moment he switches into political promises then there will be issues because when it comes to political campaign promises, the President has a certain pedigree...So, if the President comes to paint a picture as if he has now seen the need to build district hospitals due to the COVID-19, then it is not true, the President was not truthful to us because there was no COVID-19 in 2016. He should prove me wrong if he didn’t promise this to Ghanaians in the party's manifesto''.
Criticisms Premature
But speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' program Wednesday, Allotey Jacobs opined that it would have been best for the NDC to adopt a wait-and-see approach for a while to know whether the project could even be rolled out, before attempting to shoot it down entirely.
To him, it is 'premature' for the NDC to cast doubts over the feasibility of the President's promise in improving the health sector because it was not capture in this year's budget.
"If he says he will construct them, we have to exercise patience and watch him. Where is he going to get the funds? How is he going to start? Should he claim to have started one or two, bear in mind that the residents in whose districts the hospitals are being constructed can bear witness or otherwise. So, for me, it is premature for him to be criticized because you're even urging him on to even find resources to start the projects . . . If he can do it or not, what is important is that 88 districts in this country needs hospitals.
''When it's getting close to elections and he hasn't begun, then you can call out his bluff, but it's too early to even say that it will be difficult or impossible to find the resources to complete it," the former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC stated.
Watch Video Below
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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AFTER ALL HE IS A FANTI MAN-WHEN I VISITED GHANA ON HOLIDAYS,MY THIRTY YEARS ABSENCE I FOUND NOTHING NEW FROM KASOA TO CAPE COAST.FORGIVE HIM AND LET HIM GO SCORT FREE BECAUSE HE STILL GOT THE NDC CHARACTER AND ATTITUDE.SALUTE
Good observation... To some of these NDC people everything is impossible. I remember Free SHS and NHIS. As soon as the president made the announcement Joyce Bawa said it is a lie. These people will remain in opposition forever.
"There can never be a free SHS in Ghana". REMEMBER!!!! I rest my case.
Another ***barred word*** self acclaimed communicator God really dey But his time will surely come
I THINK ALLOTEY JACOBS HAS FORGOTTEN HOW TO DO POLITICS. PERIOD!!
But you Allotey Jacob what is wrong with you, you have got your Hotel during NDC time and NDC save you from being arrested in the USA, keep quiet and ***barred word*** your big mouth, Go and campaign for Akuffo Addo. We know you when you were not the Central Region NDC Chairman so be very careful.
NDC should do away with this guy, he is no longer useful to the party. He is thinking of not loosing his hospitality industry with the current government. That is where majority of NPP officials lodge whenever they travel to central regional capital. He does not make sense anymore, NPP is using him because ghanaians think he is an NDC sympathizer. He has already disgraced himself, he no longer represent NDC on media discussions, he is always invited by the cartel to say something to create the impression. He is on someones payroll. NDC should for young and intelligent youth to represent the party. He does not speak sense any longer- money swine. Sooner NPP regional office will boil because of the amount spend on this guy
NDC and their short sighted party faithfuls should tell the whole world that the hospital of the hospital will only benefit Nana Addo and his family alone. Characters in NDC should be careful and think big and stop their childish talks. Same rotten talks from NDC was done during the FREE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL promise . WHO ARE THEY ? AND WHAT DO NDC THINKS THEY ARE? GHANA IS NOT FOR THEM ONLY . SOME CHARACTERS IN NDC WILL PROLONG THEIR STAY IN OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY ARE UNCULTURED AS FAR AS GHANA POLITICS IS CONCERN MR. ALLOTTEY STAY BLESSED
No one has said it is wrong to build 88 hospitals, Allotey Jacob what you saying doesn't make sense at all. You make sense when you keep quiet. You are now CPP, God will punish you for being on NDC board.