The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is calling for the presidency to reveal the details regarding the current health status of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Dr Bawumia has been flown to the United Kingdom for medical leave.

A statement to that effect from the presidency said: “Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the late hours of Friday, 19th January, 2018, left Ghana for the United Kingdom for medical leave on the advise of his doctors.”

Dr Bawumia reported to work on Friday, 19 January 2018 unwell.

However, ASEPA indicates that usually the seat of government does not announce the health status of the President or the Vice President and so for an official announcement to be made in this regard “shows the seriousness of the situation and so the presidency should not keep the whole country in a loop any longer”.

“It is important that Presidency makes full disclosure on the causes of the vice president's sudden ill health, his status before he was flown out of the country and also keep the citizens informed every step of the way on the improvement of his health status or otherwise,” a press release issued on Saturday, 20th January by ASEPA Executive Secretary, Mensah Thompson, stated.



The release explained that the constitution of Ghana is not clear on the duties of the Vice President, however “we know that the Vice President heads the economic management team (EMT) so it is important that there is an official communiqué indicating which official will act in his stead until he fully recovers to take up official duties”.

Below is the full statement :


*MAKE FULL DISCLOSURE ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT -ASEPA DEMANDS*


ASEPA wishes to officially call on the presidency to make full disclosure on the current health status of the Vice President Dr Bawumia to clear the air on the numerous speculations on social media purporting to be unconfirmed accounts of what may have caused the Vice President's sudden illness.

Even though there are no official records of the health status of the Vice President before assumption into office, it is public knowledge that the Vice President is quite a healthy young man.

His public appearances a few days ago and even the day before the official announcement of his sudden illness did not give an indication of any fragile health concern.

Usually the seat of government does not announce the health status of the President or the Vice President and so for an official announcement to be made in this regard shows the seriousness of the situation and so the presidency should not keep the whole country in a loop any longer.

Announcing his ill health and the subsequent flying out of the Vice President to the UK for further treatment isn't enough to allay the fears and concern of all well-meaning Ghanaians on whose taxes the vice president is being taken care of.

It is important that the presidency makes full disclosure on the causes of the Vice President's sudden ill health, his status before he was flown out of the country and also keep the citizens informed every step of the way on the improvement of his health status or otherwise.

This is a matter of public concern and so we expect the presidency to act pro-actively throughout the period in which the Vice President is indisposed to prevent unnecessary speculations.

Even though the constitution of Ghana is not clear on the duties of the Vice President, we know that the Vice President heads the economic management team(EMT) so it is important that there is an official communiqué indicating which official will act in his stead until he fully recovers to take up official duties.

This situation seriously ignites the debate of full disclosure of the health status of public officials before putting themselves up for election into public offices. It is important that parliament makes clear cut laws in this regard to fully direct our paths on how to act accordingly as a nation especially when such situations present themselves.

Our thoughts and prayers are first with the second family, the wife and children of the Vice President and his extended family and secondly to the good people of Ghana.

Let us remember the Vice President in prayers and also with heartwarming support throughout this trying moment and it is our prayer that he recovers soon.

Signed:

Mensah Thompson
Executive Secretary -ASEPA

Cc.
The Presidency
All Media Houses