Ghana’s Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has indicated in a Facebook post that Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Mawumia, who was taken ill last week Friday is very well and will return to work soon.
Mrs Bawumia in the post also thanked Ghanaians for their well wishes, prayers and support.
“My husband and I are grateful to all Ghanaians and well-wishers from across the world for your prayers, support and best wishes.”
She further assured that Dr Bawumia (her husband) would be back to work very soon.
Dr Bawumia was reported ill by the presidency on Friday, January 19, 2018. He was later flown to the UK on Saturday for further treatment.
A statement signed by the Chief of Staff Frema Osei-Opare said the Vice-President was on medical leave as advised by his doctors.
It said the vice-president was joined by his wife for the UK trip.
However, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, called for more clarity from the presidency with respect to the health status of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Sunday, he criticised the government over its communication of what he described as a “sensitive matter.”
Mr Iddrisu suggested that some of the wording in the statement released on the matter were vague.
“Mr Speaker, we are not happy with government communicators at the office of the Presidency. Mr Speaker, it is a sensitive matter. I could be ill myself, but Mr Speaker, they should communicate well. I have sighted a letter where they say he is on Medical leave. What medical leave? Words matter,” the Minority leader remarked.
The practice of revealing the health status of a President or a Vice, is not a common practice in Ghana.
In most cases, they are kept top secret, leaving room for the public to speculate. It is thus unclear why the current New Patriotic Party [NPP] administration has found it necessary to put out this information – something that will undoubtedly surprise many.
However, in most developed democracies like the United States and most parts of Europe, there is often full disclosure on the health statuses of Presidents.
Whiles some commended the government for speaking about the Vice President’s ill health, others criticised it, saying the announcement created panic.
It will be recalled that Ghana’s late President, John Evans Atta Mills, died of a disease that is still unknown to Ghanaians.
While he was alive and in office, his party, the NDC, repeatedly denied reports that he was unwell, although his physical appearance depicted him as unwell.
When he passed on, most Ghanaians criticised the governing NDC at the time for not being truthful with the health status of the President, but rather went ahead to create an impression that all was well with him.
Story: Kofi OWUSU TAWIAH
Writer’s email: kofi.tawiah@todaygh.com