The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku has described as "unpresidential", former President Mahama's decision to form a COVID-19 response team.
Former President and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, on Sunday, March 22, 2020, revealed that the opposition party has submitted a proposal of a national action plan on combating the Coronavirus disease to the Speaker of Parliament.
NDC COVID-19 Response Team
Speaking at a church service to end a three-day prayer and fasting organised by the NDC, he also announced the formation of a technical team to spearhead the affairs of the national action plan, pointing it out that it is evidence of their commitment to assisting the government in the fight against the pandemic.
“I have also already announced that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is committed to assisting government in this fight by availing all technical and logistical resources at our disposal. As evidence of our seriousness in that respect, we have assembled a technical team to guide our efforts and to lead the NDC’s response to the evolving situation. The team is an assembly of experts from the many fields that will be required to implement a national action plan on COVID-19,” Mahama reportedly said.
Politicizing Coronavirus Situation
But some have questioned the rationale for and the terms of reference of this response team since they consider it an unnecessary favour seeking attempt by the opposition party.
Unpresidential Conduct
Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Sammi Awuku who commended President Akufo-Addo for his proactiveness in curbing the spread of the scourge, indicted the NDC leader for seeking attention in dire moments for political gain by arrogating unto itself the powers to set up parallel structures to counter that of the state.
''I am struggling to understand former President Mahama and the NDC. Do we establish opposition NADMO in times of floods?'' he quizzed.
"...Mahama's conduct was not presidential…there was no need to form any committee except for political gain. They have travelled beyond basic politics. What kind of suggestions are they going to give? Politicizing this is the lowest point in this whole discussion...
"...every step of the Government goes a long way to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The government has recalled all retired health experts to help curb the spread of the disease…This is not the time to play politics but I was surprised to realize that the leader of the NDC has set up a covid-19 response team. There is no country where an opposition party has set up a response team. what is the terms of reference? It was a wrong move, totally needless and sought to politicize the situation and I think the former President’s conduct was not presidential at this point in time," the NPP National Organiser said.
Members of NDC’s COVID-19 response team
1. Nana Kofi Quakyi (Assistant Professor in Public Health/Specialist in Health Economics)
2. Dr. Vida Yarkong (PhD in Interdisciplinary Medicine)
3. Dr. Prosper Akanbong – Immediate Past CEO of Tamale Teaching Hospital and Physician Consultant
4. Dr. Jehu Appiah: Senior Medical Consultant and former General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association
5. Prosper Bani – Former Minister of Interior and former Head of UNDP’s Crisis Prevention and Recovery Team for Africa
6. Dr. Zanetor Rawlings – Medical Doctor
7. Alex Segbefia – Former Minister of Health
8. Mintah Akandoh – Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Committee of Heath
9. Prof. Margaret Kweku – UHAS
10. Dr. Jonas Asamoah – Public Health Expert, Hawa Memorial Hospital, Osiem.
11. Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh – (Communications Specialist) NCB-HQ
Source: Peacefmonline.com/GHANA
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THEY RE LOOKING FOR WY TO STEEEEL CORONVIRUS MONEY. THEY SHLL SOON PRESENT THEMSELVEVES TO "WHO" ND SK FOR MONEY. THEY RE CRIMINLSLLS
Sammy awuku,stop these political jabs; Ghana does not need this from you. We all confront a common enemy no one can claim expertise on. So all political lines should disappear if we are to find a solution to the problem. As a matter of fact suggestions are welcome from all Ghanaians irrespective of political affiliations and the best suggestion does not need to come from people affiliated to NPP or NDC. Ghana and the problem confronting us now is bigger than these two parties combined!
So what will this medical team do? they cant advice or force the hands of the current government. its cheap politics and both parties should know that Covid19 doesn't know any political colors.
Wrong move for making an effort to help curb this avoidable situation caused by nana addo? What is the problem, when a presidential candidate decides to get a team on ground to put their heads together and plan how to eradicate or even manage this situation. Remember he is likely to inherit the mess of COVID 19 brought to Ghana by nana addo and his entourage.
You see the st*pidity in some politicians. The UK Gov. is requesting a voluntary assistance of 250,000 civilians. What is wrong if the NDC, or PWQ party decides to help. This is a national Crisis and all must help.
is only in GHANA THAT A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS OF RETIRED FOOTBALLERS, MEDICAL DOCTORS, NURSES , POLITICIANS PLACED THEIR SERVICES AT THE DISPOSAL OF A NATION IS CRIMINAL. THIS '' KNOW IT ALL" RETARDED MINDED GOVERNMENT SEE VOLUNTARISM AS A EVIL, ELSEWHERE JACK MAH, DONGOTE, STARS ARE ALL DONATING. MAHAMA WAS AT HELM OF AFFAIRS OF GHANA DURING EBOLA OUTBREAK, HE WAS ECOWAS CHAIR AT HEART OF EBOLA IN LIBERIA. HIS STERLIN PERFORMANCE PREVENTED EBOLA FROM COMING TO GHANA. MAHAMA DID WITH EXPERT AND THESE MEN ARE PLACED AT THE DISPOSAL OF GHANA. THIS RETARDED MINDED GOVERBMENT SHOULD BE GRATEFUL NDC EXPERTS .ITS EVEN PRUDENT TO THE NATION TO HAVE A STAND BY TEAM OF EXPERTS TO CLOSE AND POINTED GABS IN GOVERNMEMENT STRATEGY TO COMBAT COVID 19. IF MAHAMA WERE PRESIDENT, 1. COVID 19 EMERGENCY FUND WOULD HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED TO MOBILISE FUND TO SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE 2. COMPULSORY AND CONTINOUS TESTING OF COVID 19 3. NATIONWIDE LOCK DOWN 4. REGIONAL/DISTRICTS AND TOWNS ISOLATION CENTRES ITS ONLY BACKWARD RETARDED GOVERNMENT THINKS, THEY HAVE ATTENDED A UNIVERSITY IN JUPITER.
So can the NDC response team advice mahama to announce a lockdown in Ghana?
All hands on deck Ghana belongs to all of US not ONE person ,any one who is prepared to help please go on You greedy people, everything you put in politics 1) Sammy Awuku with all your talk tell me how much you have donated to the Covid-19 team ????? You try to scrol dwon people without any proper reason you could have supported the idea after all they are trying to help ghanaians . Mr Dangotte was able to help Nigerians $550.000 dollars ,so if the former president wants to help what is wrong about it , you say down for the virus to come Ghana before acting ,DOES this make sense ????? YOU BETTER STOP YOUR BIG TALK .
Indeed all that Mahama thinks about is winning elections.Has any body heard the Democratic Party in the US doing so?May God save Ghana.
AKUFO Addo is sick and has not got what it takes to lead ghana he is bankrupt in ideas and has no understanding of how to get people to be aware of their situation what a clueless president