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Former Minister of Health in the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), is threatening to take appropriate action against the Enquirer Newspaper and its associates for a publication he says would not be made to go with impunity. The Enquirer newspaper, yesterday, December 21st, published on its front page that: �The former Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), who is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office in respect of circumstances surrounding the award of contracts, has been rushed out of the country to Israel to ostensibly seek emergency medical attention for a yet-to-be disclosed ailment.�It further and hypothetically stated in the second paragraph that �It is most likely he [is] suffering from stroke, exacerbating a decade-long waist problem.� But the former Health Minister says it is a �cock and bull� story in a statement issued in reaction to the publication and signed by Kobla Asamani, Executive Officer at the Office of Major Quashigah (Rtd.). Read below the full statement issued from the Office of Major Quashigah (Rtd.) Quashigah Is Alive And Kicking Every human being one way or the other gets sick. We don�t see the reason why such a scandalous publication should be put on the front page of the Enquirer Newspaper captioned �Quashigah is dying�. Some Ghanaians particularly some members of the media have adopted the sub-culture of ridiculing statesmen when they fall sick and make it look as if humans are immortal. Even Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected. So when one falls sick, one has the ability to recover. In the case of Major Quashigah he has been treated unfairly. The content of this article makes reference to officials of the KIA confirming that Major Quashigah was reeled under severe pain prior to departure and had to be assisted by one of his kids. This particular aspect of the publication goes to confirm that the enquirer and its source had a clear intention of political mischief to downplay the intelligence of Ghanaians who are not gullible. This is because in using the VVIP Lounge, a VIP is expected to climb a stir case of which he did himself. He was not accompanied by any child of his but rather the Cousin and his Executive Officer. If the Enquirer newspaper cares to know whether the wife was on board for the trip; yes she was, and that is Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah. Perhaps they should recheck from their source, because it is clear that they have been misinformed resulting in the release of such inaccurate and malicious reportage which is generating unnecessary controversies in the public domain. The paper quoted: �The former Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (retd), who is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office in respect of circumstances surrounding the award of contracts, has been rushed out of the country to Israel to ostensibly seek emergency medical attention for a yet-to-be disclosed ailment.�It further and hypothetically stated in the second paragraph that �It is most likely he [is] suffering from stroke, exacerbating a decade-long waist problem.� This is also a clear indication that the reporter absolutely does not know his reasons for travelling to Israel. Major is not suffering from stroke which made him to Travel to Israel. He is in Israel because of an invitation he received from the Ministry of Divine Health in Dimona, to take part in an exclusive film interviews dubbed �Enlightened Speakers Series�. He will join a group of health experts in reviewing the medical status of the natives of Dimona after achieving 35 years of health excellence. In furtherance of this, Major Quashigah�s waist problem which the Enquirer attributed to stroke is not as a result of the incarceration but rather the side effects of being a former jump man, a paratrooper or an Airborne Ranger. Major Quashigah has also never travelled outside the country to seek medical attention on stroke. Anytime Major was sick, as patriotic as he is, he makes sure he seeks medical attention here in Ghana. After all, even if he was sick; this is purely confidential and a private affair. On other related references to the ongoing SFO investigations and his political ambition, we will like to state that such media publications should not be allowed to gain grounds since it will not augur well for Ghana�s development. I wonder how many programmes the reporter has initiated. In fact Major Quashigah is credited for initiating programmes that has touched millions of people both in Ghana and across the globe, and so, he should be hailed. We also wonder if investigative journalism has lost ground in our media circles where falsehood is peddled instead of accurate facts. It is time we made the incoming generation understand that sickness or illness had always been part and parcel of the human beings. In situations where the ill health of statesmen or public officials is being used as a yardstick in determining their abilities to perform should be discouraged. This publication would not be made to go with impunity. The appropriate action will be taken. Meanwhile, the office of Major Courage Quashigah (retd), has made contact with the writer of the cock and bull story who could not substantiate the publication. Therefore, we will like to admonish journalists who want to specialise in investigative journalism that they should learn from professionals and prominent journalists such as Mr. Kwaku Baaku Jnr, Anas and Mr. Kwasi Pratt Jnr. Journalists should desist from these evil acts, since such scandalous publications can only destroy the nation. For those who mess with the best like Major Quashigah will die like the rest. Long live all good practicing journalists, long live all true patriots and long live mother Ghana. Source: Kobla Asamani Executive Officer Office of Major Quashigah (Rtd.) [email protected]