Former Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Badu Akosa, has urged President John Mahama to question any political appointee who sends their children to school overseas.
Speaking in an interview in a video shared on social media, the outspoken medical expert and politician, stated that public officeholders must demonstrate their belief in the Ghanaian educational system that they preside over.
“If you are appointed as a politician and your children don’t go to school in this country, the president should ask questions. You want to put a policy on education and your children do not go to school here. No, why should that be? Everybody’s child is outside, and yet some how those of us …our children should be here. I brought my children from the UK to go to school here. They went to the tail end of primary school, they went to secondary school here, they went to university here. What is wrong with that? And today, I believe that wherever they are they can conquer the world.
“So if you are somebody who has been put in a political position and your children do go to school here, you don’t attend healthcare here, I don’t believe that you deserve to lead the people.” Prof. Badu Akosa said.
The experienced pathologist further expressed strong disapproval of the practice where politicians and senior public officials seek medical care abroad whenever they fall sick.
“Why should any public officer, politician, or senior public official be allowed to travel outside to seek healthcare? Do they disrespect those of us who are medically qualified professionals in this country? If you look at the budget for external medical treatment, why are we not prepared to ensure that there are MRIs in every region, that there are CT scans?” he questioned.
Prof. Badu-Akosa further stated: “Whether you like it or not, healthcare is expensive, and when they go out there, they pay through their nostrils. So why can’t we develop our healthcare system here? If the president falls ill and is admitted to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital or the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), what will happen? Are there no competent doctors to take care of them? There are.”
Belated 68th Independence Anniversary! We must demand answers from our leaders! Why? pic.twitter.com/TfD23iJbz5
— Franklin CUDJOE (@lordcudjoe) March 7, 2025
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Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below: