PSGH Kicks Against AFCON Tournament in Ghana

James Ohemeng Kyei
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has made a passionate appeal to President John Mahama not to allow Ghana to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition next year.

The association's decision, according to its president, James Ohemeng Kyei, was due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West African countries which is likely to impact negatively on the health of Ghanaians.

He said Morocco's request for postponement was timely, appropriate and in the best interest of CAF member countries in view of the gloomy prediction on Ebola by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) which had predicted as many as 550,000 to 1.4 million Ebola infections by January 2015.

'Therefore hosting the tournament in Ghana is tantamount to opening the floodgates for Ebola virus carriers to come in their numbers and later infect the good people of Ghana with the virus.

This is because the two-21 days incubation period of the Ebola virus will allow entry of those who have contracted the virus but do not show the signs and symptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD) yet. After the incubation period, they will develop the EVD signs and symptoms in Ghana and start infecting Ghanaians,' he said.

The PSGH also raised questions on the treatment of Ebola patients even in the First World with advanced health systems with people still losing their lives despite the quality of care they received.

'As health professionals, members of the PSGH most of whom are ardent football fans are also worried about the infections and deaths of health providers from Ebola,' Mr Kyei said.

The PSGH further noted that allowing AFCON to be hosted in Ghana would be a very big mistake for which 'posterity would never forgive us since the Ebola warning signs are very clear on the wall.'

The association, therefore, called on the country to support Morocco's request for postponement so that Morocco would host it at the appropriate time.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri